THE POWER OF LOVE
Six Centuries of Diamond Engagement Rings
Drugging Shakes
Teacher's Faith
SPECIAL EXHIBITION
Three Days Only: October 13, 14 & 15
JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER
E
lien Hechler was not sure if
she wanted to return to her
classroom last Monday. Or
ever.
The 17-year veteran math
teacher in the Detroit Public
Schools system was the victim of
a drugging incident Sept. 21 at
the hands of a 12-year-old girl.
The student admitted to Ms.
Hechler and school administra-
tors that she dropped sleeping
pills into her teacher's coffee.
"I don't know why she put
drugs in my coffee. It doesn't
make sense," Ms. Hechler said.
"But I do know that I am going to
have a difficult time trusting my
students."
The drugging took place while
Ms. Hechler was teaching a math.
class to seventh-graders at Rud-
diman Middle School on the west
side. It is not known what type of
drug the student used, Ms. Hech-
ler said.
Though she tasted nothing un-
usual in the coffee, she became
violently ill while cooking dinner
that night. Two days later, after
another student told her what
had happened, Ms. Hechler con-
fronted the girl, who confessed.
Ms. Hechler said she never
had a problem with the student
prior to the drugging. "I asked her
why she did it and she told me, 'I
thought it would help,' " said Ms.
Hechler. "Help what?"
Michele Edwards, a spokes-
woman for Detroit Public Schools,
said the girl was expelled and
faces a hearing before school ad-
ministrators. Juvenile court offi-
cials did not return phone calls
about the incident.
Although two weeks have
passed from the time of the drug-
ging, the award-winning teacher
does not feel well. She still suf-
fers from lower back pain and
stomach cramps, possible symp-
toms of the drugging. The inci-
dent also left her with occasional
panic attacks and sleepless
nights.
Ms. Hechler said the drugging
clouded her life and her future.
She recently was named Teacher
of the Year by the Detroit Area
Council of Teachers of Mathe-
matics.
"This is all bittersweet, to re-
ceive this award and have this
happen," she said.
A doctoral student, Ms. Hech-
ler hopes to leave the classroom
someday to teach educators about
innovative methods in mathe-
matics. Shaken by the drugging,
she hopes that aspiration comes
to fruition soon.
"I guess I'll just take it one day
at a time and see what happens,"
she said. 0
This 18th century ring depicts a delicate portrait of a lady beneath a large flat diamond.
Po rtraits we re often treasured tokens, such as the miniature sent by Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn
saying: "I send you the thing which comes nearest that is possible..."
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* ************************************ *
You're never too old
to quit blowing smoke.
*
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American Heart Association
Ellen Hechler:
Shaken by drugging.
WE'RE FIGHTING FOR 'TOUR LIFE
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