Pubdate: Tue, 29 Apr 2014
Source: Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH)
Copyright: 2014 The Plain Dealer
Contact: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/letter-to-editor/
Website: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/342
Author: Tom Feran

DETAILS OF DRUG-TESTING PLAN GET POSITIVE REACTION AT ST. IGNATIUS HIGH 
SCHOOL

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Students at St. Ignatius High School were not
surprised by the drug-testing plan announced in a Tuesday morning
assembly, and three juniors interviewed afterward said they liked the
plan for its "wellness approach."

Mark Raddell, a junior from Wickliffe, said the promise of
confidentiality, the advance notice of testing and the commitment to
get help for students who test positive for drugs "show the idea
behind it wasn't based on punishment.

"It gives a chance for kids to clean up, if they need to, which is
more based on wellness than trying to find out who it is and punishing
them."

Kellen Dugan of West Park said, "The message we got was that the
school wanted us to live long and successful lives."

He said the student body initially greeted the announcement with
applause --  though that may have resulted from the expectation of a
free day. "Even if it's just to stay clean for the tests," he said,
the initiative should make a positive difference for students.

John Price of Independence said there had been rumors about some sort
of testing, but not about any of the details.

"It was stressed as such a wellness program that I think people really
believe they're there to help us, not get us in trouble.

"I personally think it's a great idea," he said. "Schools sometimes
look past (drug use), but it's a problem we need to deal with."

"It spans all schools," Mark Raddell said. "It's all over the place.
It's not a standout problem (at St. Ignatius), it's something that
needs to be combated in people of our generation. We're just on the
vanguard, and hopefully other schools will follow."

Students were interviewed between classes. They were asked to
participate by school officials but were not screened for their views
in advance.
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