Pubdate: Fri, 10 May 2013 Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL) Copyright: 2013 Orlando Sentinel Contact: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325 Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs. Author: Darryl E. Owens, Editorial Writer SHOULD SCHOOLS DRUG-TEST STUDENTS? Today's moderator America's war on drugs is being fought on myriad fronts. One of the most controversial battlefields involves the schoolhouse. In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Pottawatomie County v. Earls, expanded drug testing in public schools. The ruling allowed public schools not only to test athletes, but all middle- and high-schoolers involved in competitive extracurricular activities. The ruling intensified the debate - one that was renewed with Lake Highland Preparatory School's recent policy change. Starting this fall, the Orlando private school will test every student in grades seven through 12 for roughly 18 drugs. On the list: marijuana, painkillers, heroin and cocaine. More schools have turned to drug testing. About14 percent of the nation's school districts had performed random drug testing in at least one high school in 2004-05, noted a 2008 study. While schools embrace the practice, some studies question drug testing's effectiveness. Beyond that, it's a practice that critics - including one of today's Front Burner columnists, Harold J. Krent, a constitutional scholar and Fourth Amendment expert - argue not only invades student privacy but inspires mistrust of the instructional staff. On the other hand, advocates, such as our other columnist, Debbie Moak - whose family has suffered tragedy because of drugs - insist that drug-testing students provides a deterrent and helps parents protect children. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom