Pubdate: Wed, 12 Apr 2006
Source: Central Kentucky News Journal (Campbellsville, KY)
Copyright: 2006 Central Kentucky News Journal
Contact:  http://www.cknj.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1479
Author: Rebecca Dial, editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

SOMETIMES AN 'EASY OUT' IS THE BEST WAY

As much as we hate to admit it, there's a drug problem  in our 
community. It might not be as horrendous an  issue as some other 
communities deal with, but any  problem at all is bad.

A neighboring school district is considering a drug and  alcohol 
testing policy for students in extracurricular  and co-curricular 
activities. At least one school  administrator said he feels a 
testing policy would  actually help students say no to the 
temptations of drugs and alcohol.

North Washington Elementary Assistant Principal Chris  Holderman said 
he believes simply the fear of being  tested would allow students to 
say no if they're  offered drugs or alcohol, without appearing weak 
to their friends or others.

In March, the News-Journal published a letter to the  editor from a 
high school junior in Berwyn, Pa. He was  an advocate of mandatory 
random drug testing. He said  the main objective of student drug 
testing is to  provide students with a solid reason to say "no." 
Whether it be in the locker room, in the classroom or  at a party, he 
wrote, random drug testing gives  students an opportunity to choose 
their future over  peer pressure.

Of course, the following week, a man from New Jersey  took issue with 
the student's letter and said the only  proven way to keep kids clean 
and sober is through  education. "Let the schools stick to teaching 
and let  parents do their job at home."

As a parent of three, I hope (and pray) that I know my  children well 
enough to discern whether they might  someday use drugs. But I also 
know that peer pressure  is difficult to resist for even the best of kids.

(I've also asked all three of my children at one time  or another 
whether they brushed their teeth after their  bath and been told 
"yes" when their toothbrush was as  dry as a bone.)

Only 13 percent of the nation's high schools have a  drug-testing 
policy, according to a recent survey by  the National Federation of 
State High School  Associations.

We have one of those schools here.

In November 2003, we published a story about local  schools' drug 
testing policies. While Campbellsville  Schools randomly drug tests 
its athletes, Taylor County  Schools doesn't.

During the 2002-2003 school year, basketball coach Troy  Young said 
his players decided that volunteering for  drug testing was the right 
thing to do. All players  that year volunteered and none tested positive.

However, no player was to be suspended for a positive  test. The 
consequences of a positive drug test were a  conference with school 
officials and a requirement to  attend counseling. No player would be 
suspended from  school or from playing basketball.

Across town, at Campbellsville High, athletes in all  sports are 
subject to a random drug test. The  District's policy allows a 15 
percent random sample  twice each sports season in both middle and 
high  schools. A Campbellsville student has two options if a  drug 
test is positive.

The student may choose to complete a drug assistance  program and 
undergo weekly tests until he or she tests  negative. Once the 
student tests negative, he or she  may return to participating in 
athletic activities.

The student's second option is to take a nine-week  suspension from 
school athletics. At the end of the  nine-week suspension, he or she 
must pass a drug test  before being allowed to return to sports.

Campbellsville's policy appears to be a very fair one,  with the 
students' best interests at the forefront.  Other schools should follow suit.

The idea of giving kids an "easy out" would work just  as well in 
this situation as any other I can think of.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom