Pubdate: Thu, 18 Oct 2001
Source: Log Cabin Democrat (AR)
Copyright: The Log Cabin Democrat
Contact:  http://thecabin.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/548
Author: Bruce Plopper
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

BE CAUTIOUS WITH DRUG TESTS

I applaud the recent call that Conway School District Board of Education 
President Terry Fiddler made for more parental input concerning educational 
issues in our community. I would, however, caution school board members not 
to use such input to implement a mandatory and suspicionless drug-testing 
policy for students.

Such a potentially dangerous policy should not be implemented merely 
because a certain number of parents say they want it; instead, it should be 
implemented only after drug testing has been scientifically shown to be 
effective and only after the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it is 
constitutional. Fortunately, relevant scientific and legal guidance should 
be available within the next nine months.

In the meantime, the Conway School District should continue to implement 
existing drug-education programs that are less expensive than drug testing 
and which have been proven to be effective. Caution concerning drug testing 
of students is of utmost importance.

Bruce Plopper
Conway
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MAP posted-by: Beth