Please tell me what you think about this letter sent home by DCs school

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Sent to all parents at DCs secondary school:
'Dear Parent/ Guardian/ Carer
As part of our continuing work with schools and other partners, aimed at helping safeguard young people, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you that your children can be at risk whenever they attend parties where alcohol is freely available. Some people with a sexual predatory nature can seek to take advantage whenever they find youngsters who are at all vulnerable in those circumstances. We urge you to remind your children to take reasonable steps and use common sense to keep themselves and their friends safe; and encourage them to talk to you.

This isn't an issue for any one community or area. It can affect all young people, and with summer approaching, and celebrations at the end of the exam period, children are ever keener to get out and about. we thought it would be useful to remind you of some potential risks they could face, alongside the many obvious positive activities and opportunities available to them.
Sincerely

(signed) Chief Inspector X Headteacher Y
'
So, sensible warning, or outrageous victim blaming?

It's fine, I have two teens at High school and wouldn't read anything into it at all.

Sensible warning.
Some parents do this themselves but obviously others don't.
I think its a very good idea, have never seen such a letter before.
All schools should do this if they aren't already.

Wish our High school sent out a message like that shows they care imo teenagers are vulnerable when they are drinking its sensible and makes parents aware that yes their children too.

I'd say sensible warning but then I don't see any difference between this and reminding adult women that rapists sometimes take advantage of drunk women walking alone in unpopulated areas (I'd guess the stats are somewhat similar too) however that is blatant victim blaming according to mn posters so take your pick really.

I'd say sensible warning, and the same as RedRug

Sensible, though I would have thought it might be good to mention other risks of drinking, not just making yourself vulnerable to sexual predators, which some might see as applying only to girls. Teenage boys are also much more likely to engage in risky behaviour or put themselves in vulnerable positions when they have been drinking (as I have pointed out to teenage DS more than once).

I agree with a pp about victim blaming being banded about we need to teach our children about personal responsibility. we tell them as young kids dont talk to people we dont know we teach them all sorts of things this letter home is just an extention of that its saying if you are drinking take care of each other and yourself.

I really like the tone of that letter - good on the school for sending.

Very sensible, and perhaps the school is aware that a lot of the kids are out getting lammed every weekend and is maybe concerned that the parents might be unaware/not bothered.

(The "victim blaming" thing on MN is getting tiresome and is drawing attention away from instances of real victim blaming, which does of course happen. Just not as often as MN would have you believe. (the same with the trotting out of "bullying". Applied ad hoc to situations where it is blatantly not the case it becomes meaningless. "wah wah, my boss shouted at me, OK I hadn't done the work I was supposed to/he caught me on FB, he's a BULLY!" No, you're a crap employee, but let's not get facts get in the way.)

I'd like to hear the OP's thoughts on this?

DrankSangriaInThePark, I'm laughing at the irony of your name on this thread

I partly blame Tumblr, again.

Sensible advice - and as PPs have said, it could be a useful intro to talking more about it.

As an example, the youngsters in our family seem to be out in pubs at below 18 (with fake IDS being organized by them and their friends) but I discovered the other day that not one of them is aware of even the possibility of drinks being spiked - if only by other friends as a 'prank'. It was all 'Oh don't be daft - none of our friends would do anything like that'.

They don't even seem to recognize issues of personal safety so I'd be glad of anything that could highlight the topic in a way that could help to educate them.

I am struggling to see how any sensible person could read victim blaming into that letter.

Hmmm. I might have a concern about the "sexually predatory nature" bit. Because it shows that the letter really is just telling girls not to get drunk or they might get raped, isn't it? Not just that you're more likely to get into all sorts of trouble if your're drunk- you might get mugged, or run over for example.

I would rather it said "criminals"

I just thought "why do you need to warn me about this, please do fuck off"

Akin to the lunchbox police

DD (17) told me she went to a party & "I had a water bottle with a sports lid & I never put it down"

It's amazing how with a little knowledge they can protect themselves

Sensible warning.

This bit clearly shows who would be blamed: Some people with a sexual predatory nature can seek to take advantage whenever they find youngsters who are at all vulnerable in those circumstances.

Worra I hadn't thought about that. I seem to recall what I did after the sangria in the park as well.....although I was 20 at the time and not 14....

A few summers ago it was actually the year dd left school so i knew the boy anyway i was walking to the shop and the boy was hammered his mates were about to leave him I shouted after them to take him home they slurred a sorry and picked him up and staggered off these kids need to look after each other imo.

I would take it as there has been something happening which the police are unable to take any action over, and a warning is being issued to put people on their guard.

Potential Victim alerting, rather than blaming.

It's very sensible. I hope they are also talking directly to the kids in assemblies and in tutor time.

Sensible warning, imo.

I think its good.

I'd like to hear them say they are backing it up by teaching in school how to be responsible as a young adult; alongside parents doing it. I don't think its victim blaming to say any young adult needs to learn to take responsibility for their actions, and to encourage them to look out for their friends too. This applies to both sexes - growing up is about taking responsibility.

It's basically just reminding parents to remind their kids of the dangers they can get into.

I don't think the parents will over think the letter and its exact wording too much.

Drunken teens also often get in trouble in lakes/the sea around exam celebration times too.

So hopefully the letter will prompt a general discussion about danger.

Agree with DayLillie or this is in response to an incident which took place this time last year. Ask on the grapevine.