Pubdate: Thu, 22 May 2003
Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO)
Copyright: 2003 The Springfield News-Leader
Contact:  http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129
Author: Don Harmening, Linda Harmening

Drug Testing

WHERE WOULD IT ALL STOP?

A big Amen to your editorial advocating rejecting the random drug testing 
being considered for students in Marshfield engaged in extracurricular 
activities, even though school authorities have no reason to believe the 
student is taking illegal drugs (May 20 Our View, "Say no to suspicionless 
drug test").

If this invasion of a student's privacy is adopted, the next step will be 
to try to randomly test all students for illegal drug usage even though 
there is no reason to believe they have broken the law.

By logical extension, will the next step be random testing of anyone the 
government feels might be using illegal drugs?

This is a terrible policy and will only lead us down the road to a 
totalitarian state. The school board should reject this Orwellian proposal.

Don and Linda Harmening,

Strafford
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens