Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jun 2002
Source: Alexandria Daily Town Talk (LA)
Contact:  2002 Alexandria Daily Town Talk
Website: http://www.thetowntalk.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1027
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DON'T RUSH ON STUDENT DRUG TESTING

Even though the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that certain public high 
school students can be tested for drugs, the Rapides Parish School Board 
cannot rush to any action.

Given the fact that the board already faces a $7 million budget deficit, 
this is certainly no time to enter into any new programs.

The ruling allows testing of students engaged in after-school activities. 
The law of the land already allows drug testing of athletes, and 
student-athletes in Rapides Parish are subject to random testing.

When considering the ruling which expanded the field of students who can be 
tested, the board must consider how expensive testing would be.

The court ruling was 5 to 4, but if the majority can hold, it will likely 
expand further to include random testing of all students at some point.

The use of illegal drugs is certainly present among students, and testing 
does provide some measure of restricting such usage, so we do not condemn 
the practice.

Detection of illegal drug use by students is a matter of public health and 
safety, and strong measures must be taken to prevent such health- and even 
life-endangering activities.

That said, we urge the School Board to act sensibly, especially given its 
poor financial condition.

We can agree with those who say drug testing of students who participate in 
after-school activities cannot hurt; we also agree with those who are 
concerned about the considerable expense of drug testing.

We also are not so sure that students who participate in after-school 
activities are the most logical target of drug testing.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom