Pubdate: Mon, 08 Jul 2002
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2002 Cox Interactive Media.
Contact:  http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: James B. Wilkinson
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1212/a05.html?1402

DRUG TESTS FOR STUDENTS AN OUTRAGE

I salute The Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial staff on its July 1 
opinion "Drug testing likely to fail those teens it seeks to help." 
Requiring American workers to submit to biological testing as a condition 
of employment is bad enough, but inflicting this privacy-destroying ritual 
on our children as a prerequisite for extracurricular participation is 
absolutely heinous.

Had this ill-advised scheme been attempted when I was in high school in the 
late 1960s, I believe my fellow classmates would have boycotted 
extracurricular activities in droves. My 14-year-old son wrestles and plays 
football for Grayson High School, but should Gwinnett County begin urine 
testing, I will strongly encourage him to drop these programs and persuade 
his friends to do likewise.

JAMES B. WILKINSON, Lawrenceville
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom