Pubdate: Thu, 20 Dec 2007
Source: Daily Journal, The (MN)
Copyright: 2007 Fergus Falls Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2568
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

USE TESTS FOR RIGHT REASONS

Teens take a lot of very important tests as they move through the 
school system.

But the results of new tests offered through a Wisconsin school 
district may be the most important. The Maple school district is 
offering parents of students in grades 6-12 vouchers for a free 
drug-testing kit.

The district received $5,000 worth of free vouchers for the test from 
the company that sells them on the Internet. The vouchers available 
from the district are for a drug test kit that tests for cocaine, 
amphetamine, marijuana, opiates, methamphetamine, barbiturates, and 
several other illegal drugs.

The entire scenario should concern parents, students and other school 
district officials across the nation.

The idea of a school district offering drug tests to parents for use 
on their teens is disturbing. If district officials have concerns 
about a particular student, they should contact the parents and the 
parents should take action and responsibility for their child.

But to offer -- for no reason other than they were provided to the 
district for free -- drug tests is beyond the school's purview.

The district has made it clear that it is not involved in the drug 
tests after sending the vouchers to parents. And, officials have said 
all inquiries and the results of the tests would be confidential.

Greg Blair, director of the district's curriculum and instruction, 
said the test offers students another way to say no to illegal drugs 
because they can say their parents test them for drug use. Certainly, 
some young people have problems with drugs and should get the help 
they need. But a school district offering parents a free test simply 
because they are available is not reason enough to test.

Wouldn't it be better to teach children the real reasons to reject 
doing drugs? Those reasons should be obvious -- a desire for a 
bright, clear future they will remember, a wish to remain physically 
healthy, and a plan to avoid violence and criminal activity.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom