Pubdate: Mon, 03 Jan 2005
Source: South London Press (UK)
Copyright: Trinity Mirror Plc 2005
Contact:  http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3106
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

HEAD DEFENDS SCHOOL DRUG TESTING

A headmaster has defended plans to introduce random drug-testing at
his school.

The scheme will be introduced at The Abbey School in Faversham, Kent,
when pupils return from their Christmas holiday.

Headmaster Peter Walker said previous Government attempts to prevent
people taking drugs were not working and "something else" had to be
tried.

Under the scheme, 20 names will be drawn at random from a list of
pupils who said they were willing to be tested.

They will then be tested by specially-trained non-teaching members of
staff.

Mr Walker said pupils found to be taking drugs would not necessarily
be excluded. Their parents would be asked to discuss the situation
with staff to determine what action should be taken.

Mr Walker said children were looking for an excuse to say no to drugs,
against peer group pressure. He said the scheme gave them that excuse.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "One of the
difficulties we have got in our society at the moment is the
Government has tried so hard and so much to try to improve levels of
prevention, yet we are not meeting with enough success. We do have to
try something else."
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MAP posted-by: Derek