Pubdate: Thu, 29 Aug 2002 Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL) Copyright: 2002 The Pensacola News Journal Contact: http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675 Author: Robert Moon TEACHER ON COCAINE HAS AN ILLNESS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FIRED It's unfortunate the school principal wants to continue discriminating against the teacher that tested positive for cocaine. Drug abuse is an illness and the teacher should be treated as such. Society, especially the school system, has become extremely tolerant of all types of people, such as gays and transgendered. But they continue to discriminate against people who suffer from drug dependency. This teacher should be allowed to remain in his teaching position provided he attends the mandated counseling and treatment. Despite what some people like to think, a teacher high on cocaine is no more of a threat to the students than any other teacher on campus. Obviously the teacher should not be allowed to teach while under the influence of drugs, it might interfere with the quality of his lesson, but he should not lose his job due to this one incident. ROBERT MOON Fort Worth, Texas - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)