Pubdate: Mon, 01 Apr 2002
Source: Modesto Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2002 The Modesto Bee
Contact:  http://www.modbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/271
Author: April Richardson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SAFETY TRUMPS PRIVACY

I read your article on the the Supreme Court case involving drug testing of 
students involved in school extracurricular activities ("Justices likely to 
endorse expanded student drug tests," March 20, page A-1). If sports as an 
extracurricular activity has a requirement of drug testing, I don't see the 
harm in enforcing this same policy for all extracurricular activities. Why 
should sports programs be treated any differently than other 
extracurricular activities?

As for the questionable invasion of Fourth Amendment rights of the students 
participating in non-sports extracurricular activities, I see the drug 
testing as more of a condition of participating in that activity rather 
than an invasion of privacy. Drugs are a serious concern in all high 
schools. Just because a person does not participate in sports does not mean 
that he or she is not doing drugs. The safety of others comes before 
personal privacy.

APRIL RICHARDSON

Los Banos
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