Pubdate: Mon, 01 Apr 2002
Source: Newsweek (US)
Copyright: 2002 Newsweek, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.msnbc.com/news/NW-front_Front.asp
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/309
Author: Mary Carmichael
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

IN COURT, SPECIAL AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

The Supreme Court already allows schools to randomly drug-test 
athletes.  Now it's poised to extend the ruling to nonathletic 
activities like band and debate, letting schools bar students from 
joining if they refuse the tests.  But a ruling in favor of testing 
would make about as much sense as that pot-inspired insight you 
forgot to write down back in '79.  After-school pursuits are an 
"anti-drug".  That's what the government ads say - and so do 
government studies.  A 1995 HHS report found that uninvolved students 
are 49 percent more likely to have used drugs than those who spend at 
least an hour a week resume-building.  In 1997, the court ruled 
against drug tests as a requirement to run for positions in 
government.  But student government?  Here's your Dixie cup.
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MAP posted-by: Josh