Pubdate: Mon, 01 Jul 2002 Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL) Copyright: 2002 The Pensacola News Journal Contact: http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) SUPREME COURT ERRED IN RULING ON DRUG TESTS The U.S. Supreme Court made a mistake in ruling that students who participate in extracurricular activities in public high schools can be randomly tested for drug use. The high court's 5-to-4 ruling that schools' interest in getting rid of drugs at schools outweighs students' right to privacy is another example of government chipping away at the constitutional rights of its citizens, which include the right to be left alone when doing nothing wrong. School officials shouldn't be allowed to test students just because they choose to participate in after-school activities. Since there is no justification for randomly testing all students, the court has come up with another way to allow drug-testing in some form. In 1995 the Supreme Court allowed random urine tests for student athletes. We can understand the justification to test student- athletes because of the danger of using steroids, amphetamines or other performance-enhancing drugs, and the threat of injury or death related to strenuous activity. But what reason is there to test students who want to join the chess or drama club? We understand that parents and school officials instinctively seek to protect children from drug use. If parents want to test their children, that's one thing. But the schools should not have that privilege. Random drug-testing not only infringes on rights and freedoms of students, but also puts unnecessary burdens on schools and their resources. The time and money used to administer drug tests should be used to provide a better education in the classroom. Even though the Supreme Court has given schools the right to test students for drugs, schools have the right to decline to do so. In protecting the rights and freedoms of their students, they should. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel