Pubdate: Tue, 29 Apr 2014
Source: Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH)
Copyright: 2014 The Plain Dealer
Contact: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/letter-to-editor/
Website: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/342
Note: priority given to local letter writers
Author: James Ewinger
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

SOME ST. ED'S STUDENTS SUPPORT NEW ANTI-DRUG INITIATIVE

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - Despite concerns about a comprehensive new 
drug-screening program, some students at St. Edward High School said 
it is for the best.

Four St. Ed juniors spent nearly an hour talking to The Plain Dealer 
today, after they attended a closed-door presentation by school 
administrators that included a question-and-answer period.

"The administration is trying to protect us. They are not on the 
offensive," said student Hassan Sayed of Westlake. "They are being 
defensive. They are trying to protect us and do what's best for us."

Andy Henthorn, from Cleveland's West Park neighborhood, explained why 
three schools are undertaking the program at the same time.

"A lot of our other friends go to these different high schools. It's 
beneficial to have our friends in the same boat. It makes it easier 
to resist the peer pressure," he said.

Said Bobby Kaleel of Avon: "They are trying to help us, not hurt us. 
Even if someone gets caught, they get help."

Bobby said there could be punishment of some sort, but only after a 
person has had multiple chances. He did not specify what the 
penalties might be.

"The school is here to build men, to build character, to help us 
build good lives rather than just get us through high school," he said.

"I think when you go to private school and you accept the privilege 
of going to private school, you give up some of the privileges of 
public school, you give up some privacy," said Dan Petticord of 
Sheffield Village.

"I think it (the program) is necessary to keep students safe, in the 
face of a growing drug epidemic in Northeast Ohio," Dan said.

St Ed's has an enrollment of 925 and most appear to support the 
initiative, according to the four students interviewed today.

"From what I understand, the overall reaction seems favorable," 
Hassan said. "There has been a little bit of concern, as Dan stated, 
about invasion of privacy and how the punishment is going to work -- 
if punishment ever does happen."

Andy said the student reaction has been positive, "especially among 
my group of friends. They look on this favorably. This is a 
college-prep high school with high standards. It helps us to maintain 
that high level that everyone expects of us."

Bobby said, "No one is going to be happy about privacy being invaded. 
But they are going to be looked after. This is for the benefit of 
students here and the students at the other schools.

"I think everyone realizes that drug testing and a drug-free 
community are good things. Some people (with drug problems) might be 
nervous about their parents or a third party getting involved. But 
most of the population here understands that this is a necessary 
process and it will keep people safe."

KC McKenna, St. Ed's vice president of marketing, said the program is 
the outgrowth of the close relationship among the three schools, and 
a committee examining the drug problem.

"This is wellness issue, and not punitive," McKenna said. "The 
thought was that the schools coming together would have the greatest impact."

Hassan said "St. Ed's and St. Ignatius have this enormous rivalry. 
It's athletic but also extends to social and academic atmospheres. In 
this case, we are putting aside those rivalries. "

"For some kids, it's probably hard for them to admit that they have a 
problem," Bobby said. "There is no negative here. All the kids that 
need help will get help. They have 90 days to be clean. If they can't 
do that, St. Ed's is waiting here with open arms to help."

Said Dan: "There is a problem with pot and heroin, a huge problem, 
and this is going to bring that into sharp focus." McKenna said he 
"just grabbed four students when the assembly was over." "I didn't 
give them an agenda. My only instructions to them were be honest but 
be thoughtful."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom