Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jan 2004
Source: Ocean County Observer (NJ)
Copyright: 2004 Ocean County Observer
Contact:  http://www.injersey.com/observer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1212
Author: Ashley Mozer

SCHOOL DRUG POLICY UNFAIR TO STUDENTS

I am 18 years old and a senior at Brick Township High School. The
Board of Education recently enacted a rule that enables the school to
randomly screen students who drive for drugs and alcohol. This has
caused the school a great deal of problems because the majority of
students are highly against this new rule. I, personally, do not abuse
drugs or alcohol and feel it is an infringement of my rights as a
citizen of this country.

First of all, the student drivers at our school were not told at the
beginning of the school year that eventually this would become an
issue for us. We were given a privilege and by no means should it be
taken away.

Second, this causes an even larger problem for me and a few others
because I am dismissed from school at 11:40 a.m. and there is no other
transportation for me other than my own each day.

My school officials have made it very clear to me that, if I refuse to
sign a consent form for drug testing, then I basically will have no
way to get home from school. The vice principal has told me that they
are not forcing me to sign this paper, but what he does not understand
is that they really are not giving me a choice.

For these reasons, I am looking for public attention to this matter.
If I do not hand this signed paper in soon, they will begin to issue
me tickets, and I really do not want to have to bring this matter to
court because it is expensive and I do not posses the money for court
fees.

If you could bring this issue to public attention, it would help me
out greatly. I am not a bad person. All I ask is that I may drive to
school to get an education without having to be subjected to
embarrassment, degradation and a whole bunch of headaches.

Ashley Mozer

Brick
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin