Pubdate: Sat, 12 May 2007
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald (Hilo, HI)
Copyright: 2007 Hawaii Tribune Herald
Contact:  http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/185
Author: Ann Marie Boehrer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

'FAILING' THE DRUG TEST

Why are teachers afraid of drug testing?

The article, "Teachers' contract includes testing" (May 3 
Tribune-Herald) was misleading. It was indicated that the reason 38 
percent of the teachers voted "no" was because "it showed the state 
is not treating the teachers as professionals."

Many readers will draw the conclusion that some or most of the 38 
percent of teachers fear being tested because they know they may test 
positive -- they are probably "users" or "addicts." Nothing was 
mentioned regarding the high percentage of false positives that 
result in the testing.

I am a retired teacher (member of the HSTA-R) and monitored the 
recent teachers' contract voting. I was aware that the teachers were 
concerned about the drug testing issue and I felt that if a teacher 
was drug-free, the teacher should not mind being tested.

Then it was brought to my attention that teachers were mainly 
concerned over the many false positives that can result from the drug testing.

Ann Marie Boehrer

Hawaiian Paradise Park
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman