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 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom