[MUSIC] You're welcome again to week four which focuses on the theme - the power of the peer group. This time we want to look at the power of the peer group within the context of smoking, alcohol, drugs. In our previous lecture, we talked a lot about the positive influences that a peer group, and for that matter peer pressure, has on children. Peer pressure has either a positive or negative impact on an individual, and here we want to focus more on the negative impact, because we dealt with positives in the first lecture. While we agree, and of course, we saw it clear in the previous lecture, that the peer group provides a sort of solace and comfort to people, it can also affect young people's behaviour. Particularly when it comes to drugs, alcohol, and smoking. It is established by research that most adolescent drug users are introduced to this behaviour by friends. And one only needs to take a newspaper to find the number of young people who are engaged in drugs. And you only have to go to the social welfare unit to find out And you realize that the behavior has something to do with friends and peers. A common motive for first time drug and alcohol use is therefore peer pressure. Members of a social group that support drug or alcohol encourages others to keep on using these substances. Peer pressure is therefore an important factor when the teacher wants to address the issue of children's engagement in alcohol, drugs, and smoking. Smoking violates the regulation of schools. And in some schools, smoking can lead to the dismissal of offenders. Yet, managing the habits of smoking among students continues to pose challenges to school authorities. Most innocent students engage in smoking, as I said, through the influence of friends. They are pressured by peers to smoke. And smoking poses health threats to students as they grow into adulthood. It may start on a casual base, but when uncontrolled by the teacher, it becomes a regular feature of the student. The task of the teacher therefore is to help students to refrain from this habit inside the school premises by protecting them from peer pressure. Drugs and alcohol are commonly known as objects that can destroy lives. But both are quite useful in our lives when used positively. For instance, in medicine, drugs are used as antiseptic and to treat diseases. But because of man's abuse, it has now come to mean a terrible vice and most likely an associated substance of abuse. This is what Clarisse, 2011, observes. And so we need to ensure that in the school drugs are used positively. Positively, not negatively. So, while peer groups, and for that matter, peer power provides emotional stability, which is a comfort to pupils, it also affects their behaviour adversely. And it is a responsibility of the teacher to ensure that the child does not become a victim or an addict of drugs, smoking or alcohol. Why do students take drugs and alcohol? The obvious one is peer influence which we have been talking about, but there may also be media influence. There are a lot of media adverts that promote alcohol, and out of curiosity some children may want to get involved. Now, the desire to escape from depression often it can be a way to block problems or find a way out. And obviously, this is what some people I have personally engaged and talked to, assign as an example. When they are depressed, they think they must drink, and so children may want to. The lack of good role models. In some homes parents engage in deep alcohol intake. And so children see it as a normal thing, which they need to practice. In some schools too and I have evidence in the northern part of my own country, there are cases of teachers who get drunk. at school. And so, children imitate their behaviour, and by that they resort to drinking. There's also ineffective management of student welfare. When student's welfare is not properly managed then it can lead to peers influencing them to engage in alcohol or smoking. But as a teacher, you need to be worried about the effect of drugs on the learner. It can affect the functioning of the brain and this is what the scientists say, in the detailed lecture notes you will find information on this. It can also destroy families and seriously impact on a child's life. Not only does alcohol affect a person's health, it also affects the way that they behave. People who drink too much will be more aggressive or experience mood swings. They may embarrass themselves or others. And it shouldn't be surprising when a child who is under alcoholic influence starts to publicly assault the teacher, or assault the head teacher. These are effects which need to be controlled. By being that, it creates disciplinary problems in school. You'll find some people engaging bullying, sexual assault, stealing and engaging in other violent activities within the school. You need to remember that when a person first starts drinking, it may seem like a bad habit, but it can soon spiral into a big challenge. Someone can start drinking to cope with feelings or problems, as I said, or stress or financial troubles, but when a person becomes addicted then it becomes serious and can affect the person's learning in school. How do you deal with drug and alcoholism in school? First, there's a need for you as a teacher to regulate peer group activities to reduce peer negative pressure on individual students. You also need to involve students in planning drug and alcohol control strategies - capitalise on the power of peer influence in the school. Let children themselves be involved, thinking through the effects of these things on their lives as students, and then guide them to invite people who have experienced the effects of drugs, alcohol and smoking to talk to them in the school. Engage the assistance of professional drug and alcohol therapists to come and then educate the children. And then provide functional counseling services. In some schools I have visited, counseling services are not very effective. But, if you have a functional counseling service, it can help address issues. Remember as a teacher, that drugs and alcoholic beverages are highly addictive substances which children must not be encouraged to take. There are a number of students who, properly counseled, would not engage themselves in alcohol, drugs, or smoking. And so, promote good counseling in the school. And then don't also forget that as a teacher you are a role model for your students. And don't forget that you have another important resource which could be of benefit to you in terms of preventing student engagement in alcohol: these are older students who have been able to resist the temptation of taking alcohol or others who have experienced alcohol but have overcome their habit. Such people could be engaged in talking to their colleagues. Now, I want you to think seriously about this. It's an activity I want you to engage in. Share your additional thoughts about the role of peer pressure on student engagement, and drug and alcoholism in the school. What policies, or rules and regulations govern student behavior in terms of drugs and alcohol intake in your country? How best do you think teachers can help students avoid becoming drug addicts? Now, don't forget that one of the satisfactions that a teacher gets is to be able to say "I have helped this child to develop a positive personality". Do your best to help save the lives of children in terms of drugs, alcohol, and smoking. Thank you very much. We'll meet again. Bye-bye. [MUSIC]
