Pubdate: Fri, 22 Sep 2006
Source: Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2006 The Herald
Contact:  http://www.theherald.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/189
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1273/a06.html
Author: Duncan McLean

LAST THING YOUNG PEOPLE NEED IS DRUG DEBATE

IF ANY measure is certain to make schools feel less like institutions 
of education and more like internment centres where children are sent 
for the crime of being young, it is the introduction of compulsory 
drug-testing. Provided that children do not turn up at school 
actually high on any particular drug, it is none of the school's 
business whether they take them.

I find it hard to believe that I must iterate this, but schools exist 
solely to churn out young adults who stand a chance of finding 
employment. It is not their place to enforce laws which are 
irrelevant to education. That is the role of the police.

Picture one young person who drinks and dabbles in the use of illegal 
drugs at weekends yet gets A grades in his Highers without much 
effort -- this is not so fanciful as this newspaper's more 
conservative readers may think: I was one such pupil and I knew 
others.  Picture another young man, who never takes illegal drugs or 
even drinks alcohol, but struggles to pass every exam he sits.

Which is the better pupil? Which is the greater credit to the school? 
Does it even matter? For those of you scratching your heads or 
wringing your hands, the answer is No.

Duncan McLean, Stirling 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake