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
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman