Pubdate: Mon, 23 Feb 2004
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2004 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Patrick Wintour
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

ALARM AT BLAIR'S DRUG-TEST PLANS FOR SCHOOLS

Charities Say Random Samples Will Drive Drug Use Underground

Secondary headteachers are to be urged to introduce random drug testing - 
including taking urine samples - in schools as part of a drive to curb drug 
abuse among teenagers.

The powers, arguably already available to headteachers, were proposed at 
the weekend by Tony Blair, who instantly attracted criticism from drug 
charities and the National Union of Teachers.

The move was first suggested in a Department for Education draft 
consultation paper last year. The proposals are likely to prove popular 
with many parents and will be formally published next month.

Mr Blair said in an interview with the News of the World yesterday: "We 
cannot force them to do it, but if heads believe they have a problem in 
their school, then they should be able to use random drug testing."

The government has also separately urged the police to increase sniffer-dog 
patrols in schools.

Ministerial sources stressed that the option of drug testing would be a 
matter for each headteacher, not local education authorities. Schools are 
likely to be encouraged to hire private companies that are already involved 
in drug testing in other areas.

The government is to recommend that there should be no testing of the 
under-16s without the support and knowledge of parents, and that children 
over 16 should be asked for their agreement.

Similar schemes in 1,000 US schools appear to have had some success in 
cutting drug taking. Recent surveys suggest that as many as a quarter of 
14-year-olds know of drug dealing in their school.

In a less punitive tone than the prime minister's, department sources 
argued that headteachers should not punish those who tested positive, but 
counsel them.

They said a punitive approach could lead to increased truancy. Drug 
pushers, by contrast, should be expelled, the department said. Mr Blair had 
argued that drug users could be expelled.

Mr Blair acknowledged that some heads might be reluctant to take the 
dramatic and public step of hiring drug testers.

"Some headteachers may worry that if they go down this path they are 
declaring there is a problem in this school," he said.

"But, in my view, the local community is probably perfectly well aware that 
there is a problem."

Martin Barnes, the chief executive of the drug information charity 
DrugScope, said the plans would do nothing to reduce drug abuse among 
pupils at a time when the government was withdrawing funding earmarked for 
drug workers in schools.

"These measures risk driving drug use further underground, an increase in 
truancies and exclusions, and a breakdown in trust between pupils and 
schools," he said. He said extensive consultation on the new guidance had 
revealed strong opposition.

Eamonn O'Kane, the general secretary of the teaching union NASUWT, said: 
"This would be a very big step for any headteacher to take."

John Dunford, the general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, 
said: "Very occasionally, heads may ask the police to carry out a random 
search.

"But I am concerned at the implication that the drugs problem is rooted in 
schools and that schools should solve it."

He complained that the DfE was abolishing its special grant for drug 
education teams.

In the same interview, Mr Blair confirmed that he would stand for a third term.

"Whatever the problems and pressures, this is an immensely enjoyable and 
fulfilling job, and I intend to carry on doing it," he said. "The times are 
tougher, but I am a tougher person than six or seven years ago."

He said that suggestions that he had given a pledge to his wife that he 
would stand down when she reached 50 were "bizarre".
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom