Pubdate: Fri, 22 Mar 2002
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2002 Cox Interactive Media.
Contact:  http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: HEATHER HOLT, JAMIE MARSLENDER

PARANOIA WOULD REPLACE FREEDOM

What's all this talk about random drug tests ("Drug tests for students may 
broaden," News, March 20)? Do we not live in America? We are supposed to 
have freedom of speech, right? I guess times have changed. Since Sept. 11, 
it seems that we are not all free anymore. Everyone is paranoid about what 
everyone else is doing.

The time spent on giving random drug tests should be spent on other things. 
Students who are doing drugs will find some way around it. Plus, it would 
be a waste of time to give random drug tests to the students involved in 
after-school activities, because if they are involved in these, they 
probably aren't going to be worried about drugs.

HEATHER HOLT

Heather, of Alpharetta, is a junior at Milton High School.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SCREEN ONLY FOR STEROIDS

Drugs are present in every school across America, no matter how strict or 
forbidding the rules may seem.

Drug tests should be utilized for students in athletic programs to test for 
anabolic steroids but not for the presence of other illegal substances. If 
athletes use drugs on the weekends, they are only hurting themselves. Their 
personal lives are none of my concern.

The use of drug testing for general students is outrageous. If every 
student in public schools were tested, it would take the focus of school 
away from learning and redirect it toward drug use.

School would be jail: Wake up at six o'clock, drug test at 10 o'clock, 
lockdown at six. Where is the learning?

JAMIE MARSLENDER

Jamie, of Alpharetta, is a student at Milton High School.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart