Pubdate: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI) Copyright: 2007 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Contact: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/195 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1067/a12.html Author: Thomas E. Stuart NO ROOM IN TEACHING FOR DRUG USERS, ABUSERS Whether or not the American Civil Liberties Union succeeds in its "trolling for teachers" publicity stunt to overturn a contract provision for random drug testing, three points are worth remembering: Teaching is a calling, not a mere job -- teachers occupy a unique position of trust and influence. The issue is not one of privacy -- there is no such thing as a right to teach children. Parents and other taxpayers should reasonably be able to expect that public schools will be drug free and especially that classroom teachers in whose care their children are entrusted remain clean and sober. I applaud my fellow teachers who joined me in voting for this contract because there is no room in the profession for dope-smoking degenerates. If recreational drug use is that important to some, they have no business teaching children and should move to a less-demanding job where their peculiar habits will not endanger others. Personally, I hope Gov. Linda Lingle remains steadfast in her insistence that our schools remain drug free. Thomas E. Stuart Kapa'au, Hawai'i - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake