Pubdate: Wed, 15 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: Warren P. Hudson
Note: Guest columnist Warren P. Hudson has been president of Lake 
Highland Preparatory School for 12 years.

HEALTH, SAFETY PRIMARY CONCERNS IN SCHOOL'S DECISION TO DRUG-TEST

The Orlando Sentinel's Front Burner columns on Friday addressing drug 
testing in schools illustrate that there are issues about which 
honest people can disagree in good faith.

Harold J. Krent, dean and professor of law at Chicago-Kent law 
school, and Debbie Moak, a mother whose family has suffered 
heartbreaking tragedies associated with drug abuse, presented 
different sides of the argument whether students should be tested for drugs.

Krent, a constitutional-law expert, correctly asserts that a private 
school can legally drug-test its students. He questions, though, the 
wisdom of doing so from the perspective of privacy and trust.

Our disagreement with Krent is rooted in the fundamental belief that 
our school has a responsibility to protect the safety and health of 
our students. The minimal invasion of privacy from taking a snippet 
of hair is vastly outweighed by the obligation we have to all 
students and all parents to provide a safe, nurturing environment 
that is conducive to learning.

As educators and parents, we must communicate unambiguously our 
expectations to children, and then hold them accountable for their 
decisions and actions. Requiring accountability doesn't mean breaking 
a trust. Personal accountability is essential in teaching children 
individual responsibility and raising young adults who understand 
that they are ultimately and inescapably responsible for their choices in life.

Krent incorrectly speculates that Lake Highland Preparatory School's 
administration believes the school has a prevalent drug problem. We 
do not. But we do believe one child using drugs is one child too 
many. Our objectives in drug testing all seventh-through12th-graders, 
followed by frequent random tests, are twofold:

Provide information to parents so they can get professional help for 
their child who is struggling with drugs before it's too late.

Arm students who want to remain drugfree with an ironclad excuse when 
subjected to peer pressure to experiment with drugs: "Sorry, I can't. 
My school tests, and my drug use will be discovered."

This is a program promoting student health and wellness, not a 
punitive or disciplinary program. A small hair sample, no thicker 
than the lead in a pencil, will be taken from all middle- and 
upper-school students at the beginning of next school year. Random, 
unannounced tests will be conducted throughout the school year.

Students who test positive and their parents will be informed of the 
test results at a confidential meeting with a school administrator. 
Parents will be provided a list of local professional counselors and 
substance-abuse resources. Responsibility rests squarely with the 
parents for drug counseling and addressing their child's drug problem.

Lake Highland has no intention of intruding upon parental 
responsibilities, but hopes that the information provided to parents 
will be useful in addressing the problem. A second positive drug test 
will result in the student being asked to withdraw from Lake Highland.

Adolescent brains are in a critical stage of development. Research 
shows illegal drugs, including marijuana, cause longterm, irreparable 
damage on a youngster's developing hippocampus.

Research also shows a strong, positive correlation between the age of 
first drug use and serious substance-abuse problems as an adult. The 
earlier a child starts taking drugs, the higher the probability of 
drug and alcohol addiction later in life.

In 2010, the number of deaths nationwide from drug overdoses (38,329) 
exceeded the number of deaths from motor vehicle accidents (32,885). 
The numbers and research cry out for us to do more than passively 
accept illegal, self-destructive behavior and merely provide drug and 
alcohol education, which has been only partially successful in 
keeping children drug-free in our toxic popular culture.

The issue of privacy is a legitimate one, but when you compare a 
minuscule clipping of hair on one side to the health, safety and 
well-being of children on the other, there's no question what side 
Lake Highland Preparatory School is on - the side of children and 
families, helping children say no to destructive, illegal drugs, 
holding children accountable for their decisions, and reinforcing 
with consequences the drug education we continue to provide.
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