These are replies to an article from the Inquirer about drug testing students. Both Rob and I were able to get ours in there, which is nice.
From
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/chester/nabes/20070708_Voluntary_student_drug_tests__Bad_idea.html :
This week's letters respond to a proposal by John Walters, head of the National Office of Drug Control Policy, that schools should offer random - but voluntary - drug testing of students. (Schools already are allowed to require drug tests for students who take part in sports or other extracurricular activities)
Random student drug testing, voluntary or otherwise, is a horrible waste of time, effort, and money. School boards across the nation have been realizing this as of late, for various reasons.
Some object to such blatant invasions of privacy. Others believe that it creates a threatening environment - hardly something our schools need more of. Yet others look at the facts, the numbers, and the consequences of their policy, and see that it simply doesn't stop students from experimenting with drugs. It is a failed policy.
Random drug testing is not the answer. Drug education is the real solution to minimizing student drug abuse, and it must be real and based in fact. This is not possible until a serious change in U.S. drug laws is made. When the Federal government still believes that marijuana has no medically accepted value; and ignores a report supporting that position by the Institute of Medicine, a Federal agency, you know that there is a serious problem in the way our country discusses drug issues. Truthful, earnest discussion about drugs must be made on a national level before drug issues in schools can be seriously addressed.
Derek Rosenzweig
Co-Chairman, PhillyNORML
Philadelphia
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This is such a great idea, why limit testing to students? This golden opportunity should be made available to teachers, administrators, school board members and the odd parent or two who feel the urge to be tested.
Great idea! Go for it.
Bernard J. McGovern
West Chester
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Drug testing of students, as well intentioned as it may be, is not a substitute for real, fact-based drug education. When we relegate our responsibility to teach our children about drugs to an agency such as the ONDCP (Office of Drug Control Policy) we can only cross our fingers and hope for the worst.
Any agency that relies on keeping people in the dark about drugs in order to cash its paycheck should not be the model here. (Have you seen the talking dog commercial?) If this is supposed to be the best way to teach our children about the dangers of drugs there is something seriously wrong.
John Walters should have been booed out of the room when he asserted that marijuana use leads kids to crime and violence. Our policy of prohibition is the one to blame here.
Walters is nothing but a public figurehead for the drug testing industry, playing with people's emotions in a city stricken by the plague of violence. In the end it's worth it to note that Mr. Walters is still receiving his paycheck and every one of us is signing the check.
Robert Dougherty
Philadelphia
Original article (
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/chester/nabes/8239382.html ):
Testing Students for Drug Use
John Walters, director of National Office of Drug Control Policy.
Recently, the nation's drug czar, John P. Walters, came to Philadelphia to urge schools to offer random – but voluntary - drug testing of students.
Walters, whose title is director of the National Office of Drug Control Policy, argues that young people who take drugs are more likely to engage in violent behavior and join gangs.
He said that "early use of marijuana" was an indication of future criminal behavior, sort of like that "check engine" light going on.
Teens who use drugs, particularly marijuana, are more likely to steal and experiment with other drugs and alcohol, compared to teens who don't, according to research Walter's agency cited.
Walters wants high schools and middle schools to offer a program of voluntary, random drug testing, which is done in about 1,000 school districts in the United States. (Schools are allowed to require drug testing for students who take part in athletics and extracurricular activities.)
Do you think Chester County schools should offer this program? Would you encourage - or pressure - your children to volunteer for this test?
If you're a student, what do you make of this? Does it suggest that kids can't be trusted?
Is it meaningless because kids using drugs certainly won't volunteer to take the test. Or does it deter drug use because parental pressure to take the test could lead to exposure?
Tell us what you think about this. Please keep all letters to about 200 words.
Author
