Pubdate: Fri, 05 Apr 2002 Source: Athens Banner-Herald (GA) Copyright: 2002 Athens Newspapers Inc Contact: http://www.onlineathens.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1535 Author: Ted Hughes HUGHES: DEBATE OVER SCHOOL SEARCHES IGNORES CAUSE OF YOUTH DRUG USE Recent drug sweeps in local schools seem to have created quite a controversy. Opinions, for and against the practice, have been expressed in letters, conversations and meetings, public and private. It reminds me of a conversation in Sunday school not long ago when we were discussing the divorce rate in America. We discussed a multitude of probable causes of divorce and things that might have some kind of positive effect on reducing this tragic situation. I suggested that, instead of looking at the symptoms of the disease, we consider the root cause of divorce -- which I believe to be marriage. Of course, some immediately thought that I was promoting the idea of doing away with marriage thereby eradicating the need for divorce. My contention, however, was to revisit the institution of marriage -- stressing its seriousness and importance, and increasing counseling for people intent upon making the plunge. We need to make a concerted effort to ensure that when marriage occurs it is based upon love, long-term commitment and the idea that the family unit is the most important single component of civilized life. I have the same sort of thoughts concerning drug searches in our schools. I have read and heard the arguments, pro and con, safety vs. constitutional rights, maintaining an environment conducive to learning as opposed to chaos, and I can see valuable points on both sides. But my thoughts run deeper. Why are we having these searches in the first place? Could it be we are so involved in arguments over the symptoms that we are ignoring the actual root causes of the disease? The reason we have drug searches in our schools is because we have drugs in our schools. The reason we have drugs in our schools is because some students take drugs to school. Can anyone argue with this reasoning? I know it is simplistic, but isn't it true? Now comes the question we seem to be ignoring: Why do some kids take drugs? Why do they take them to school? I believe if we spent one-tenth the amount of time struggling with these issues, the questions concerning searches would become extinct. Times have changed! I have heard so many excuses for inaction and many appear to have merit. Times have changed, but people haven't changed. As Americans, we have access to so much that can make our lives better. We also are exposed to many things that tempt us and entice us and cause us to test our decision-making skills to the umpteenth degree. But I contend that we haven't changed. Just as the inhabitants of the Garden of Eden, we still have decisions to make, and we must be willing to accept the results of those decisions, good or bad. Our problem may very well be that we are not willing to make the best decisions, and then, when our chickens come home to roost, we scream out for our government to solve the problems created by our unwillingness to accept responsibility for our actions or inactions. If we fail to teach our children respect for authority, respect for others and respect for themselves, then we must be willing to endure drug searches in our schools. Perhaps the time we spend discussing the constitutionality, or lack of it, in school searches could be better spent with our children at home discussing the need to respect authority, starting with parental authority. Please don't jump to the conclusion that I think all kids and parents are bad. I don't. The majority of parents and children strive to do things right but have to suffer the consequences when a few fail to show responsibility. It only takes a few people to cause chaos, but everyone must be involved if we are to create harmony. We also need to remember that our society is like a mirror. When we look at it we see ourselves. And when we look at a problem in our mirror of society, we can usually see two things -- the cause of the problem and the solution to the problem -- looking back at us. We must learn to recognize our role in problem causation and problem solution. Then we may be able to spend less time discussing drug searches in our public school system and more quality time with our children. Ted Hughes is an Oglethorpe County resident and former county commissioner. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens