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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom