Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jan 2003
Source: Garden Island (HI)
Copyright: 2003 Kauai Publishing Co.
Contact:
http://www.kauaiworld.com/kauai/letterstoeditor.nsf/webletter?openform
Website: http://kauaiworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/964
Author: Elaine Dunbar
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Note: To read more about drug policy in Hawaii go to
http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Hawaii .

TEST LAWMAKERS, NOT STUDENTS

Lingle wants to follow up on Senate President Bunda's call for drug testing
of students... how about a drug testing call for Bunda. Is this the
direction of the Department of Education reform?

Don't parents have consent for an intrusionary and unconstitutional act of
drug testing their minor child? The testing in itself implies a distrust or
accusation of drug use; not necessarily proof. So if the student is not
using drugs but they are mandated to submit to testing, what does that
implant in the students mind - I really believe this will create a long list
of negative messages.

"Will lead to providing help to those students involved with drugs" When the
test comes up positive will the student be prescribed an array of
anti-psychotics, suspended, expelled? What if the lab testing is in error,
which they often are, and the student is unjustly accused and labeled? How
about the long lasting ramifications for something like this on a record?
What if the student experimented one time only, or took drugs from peer
pressure, what if... (minors records don't really go away, they get 'sealed'
for FBI or CIA viewing).

The problem isn't so much the kids, it's more the lawmakers and the
lawbreaking lawmakers who facilitate corporate crime. They aren't treated
like the criminals that they are, even when they're convicted. But a kid
will get drug tested without due process. Where's the standards?

Some real progress towards the problem would be mandatory Random drug
testing for judges and all holders of public office... starting from the
President all the way down, to set an example. Because as the proposal
appears, minor children's rights are being abused. If it's okay to do it to
the students then it should also be done to those who are supposed to be
beyond reproach.

It's making children the scapegoats for Adult System Failures... instead of
giving them a demoralizing piss test or a brand new pharmaceutical, start by
giving them some books.

Got any left over money for teachers and schoolbooks?

Elaine Dunbar,

Lihue
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk