Pubdate: Wed, 09 May 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/n567/a09.html Author: John Kim Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Drug Testing TEACHER COMMITMENT NOT BEING QUESTIONED While I normally enjoy Lee Cataluna's writing and perspectives, I really believe she missed the mark this time ("Why 5,000 teachers didn't vote," May 6). The commitment and dedication of teachers is not the impetus for random drug testing. The issue is the safety of children entrusted to our educational systems and the public's perception of that safety. Random testing helps ensure that the persons into whose hands we entrust our children are not under the influence of illegal substances. To require that degree of accountability is reasonable. We already randomly test members of the military and many others in positions of government service or public safety. We should include teachers (as well as elected officials--but that's another story). I am certain that only a very small percentage of our educators use substances illegally and therefore believe that the majority of them should be willing to demonstrate that unequivocally to the public. I also take exception to Ms. Cataluna citing the smoking practices of teachers as a parallel issue. Possession and use of nicotine (with appropriate age) is not illegal. As a product of our public school system, I can state that I never saw any teacher smoke in the classroom. While we knew teachers who did smoke, they did it in the teacher's lounges--as students, we never saw them. Why did 5,000 teachers not vote? Almost 63 percent of them did, and that exceeds the voting turnout for most of our public elections! John Kim Honolulu - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman