Pubdate: Sun, 13 May 2007 Source: Central Kentucky News Journal (Campbellsville, KY) Copyright: 2007 Central Kentucky News Journal Contact: http://www.cknj.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1479 Author: Richard RoBards, Publisher Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) DRUG TESTING A DOUBLE STANDARD? Adults create credibility issues with their children and other youth unrelated to them. I know I probably did with my children. We can see it in the entertainment industry where bad behavior is glamorized and the offenders are generally rewarded with an even bigger movie or music contract. We tell our children not to do something, saying it isn't good for them ... all the while we're either doing it ourselves or tacitly endorsing similar actions by our friends. Example: The promotion of good choices. We make the claim that our teen sons and daughters need to make good choices, while we may not be providing them with the examples with which they could retrieve a standard. It's interesting how people perceive things as they get older and embark on their careers. In Nelson County, the county school system instituted a drug testing policy for its students several years ago. This year, the school system is attempting to institute a similar policy for its teachers. We've seen the move toward student drug testing as we read area newspapers and listen and watch the news. Our schools are either testing or considering it for students, and, as I recall, there hasn't been much debate over whether it should or would be instituted. Some school somewhere tested the waters, the testing procedure met legal standards and - poof - other schools followed. But the 200-member association representing teachers in the Nelson County System has voiced its displeasure. A survey of teacher membership showed "an overwhelming majority" were against random drug testing for various reasons ... lack of a known existing problem, perceived lack of teacher input into development of the policy, privacy concerns and the disruption of the educational process. Double standard? Nelson's superintendent acted surprised by the negative reaction, saying she'd been working for more than a year to get the teacher testing plan in place. A parent spoke up at one of the school board meetings where the topic was being discussed and said: "If they don't have anything to hide, I don't know what they are worried about." Think the teachers need a PR firm to handle damage control? Teachers claim they're in favor of a drug-free environment, but they're unwilling, evidently, to put their money where their mouths are. They don't have a problem with testing as long as it's a follow-up to suspicion. A guidance counselor suggests she's convinced the teacher testing is a waste of time because no one with whom she works abuses drugs or alcohol. The counselor could be correct, but, if so, then the entire teaching population in the Nelson County School System is bucking popular statistical data. The school system's registered nurse says it's that kind of naive thinking that makes the case for testing. I don't know if teachers deserve or need to be tested, but the question does create a double standard and, if nothing else, creates a credibility issue between the teachers and those they are hired to educate. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek