Much has been written recently, including your recent editorial, about school locker searches and the use of drug-sniffing dogs. You correctly point out that the locker belongs to the school. The searches could be authorized at the time the locker is assigned through the use of a simple form stating that all lockers are subject to random searches. This form would be signed by the parent, who, I think, would be only too pleased that the school is looking out for the child's welfare. If the form is not signed, then a locker is not assigned and the student has to carry all excess baggage from classroom to classroom. [continues 170 words]
Day after day I see more and more public school educators stating they are against random drug testing because it "violates" their constitutional rights. Does this mean that any employer in the state of Hawai'i who imposes drug tests is violating my rights? Get real! Drug tests will help "weed" out, pun intended, the substance-abusing teachers and make room for teachers who practice what they preach - drug abuse resistance education. Honolulu [end]
Nobody likes even the appearance of invading someone's privacy, which is what makes the whole debate about searching student lockers distasteful to most people. That's why, while the state school board mulls over its position on searches, it's important to consider how far students should expect privacy rights to extend once they're on a public school campus. Clearly, they can't expect their assigned locker space to be sacrosanct. It belongs to the school, which should retain the right to enter it without the burden of seeking a warrant or otherwise showing reason or suspicion. [continues 317 words]
State and federal officials yesterday cited several trends that they say indicate a reduction of crystal methamphetamine activity in Hawai'i. According to statistics from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, the number of meth labs discovered in the state decreased from 17 in 2005 to two this year, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona announced. He attributed the decrease largely to recent laws that make it more difficult for people to purchase large quantities of pseudoephedrine, an active ingredient in home-based meth production. [continues 381 words]
The amount of crack cocaine seized in Hawai'i this year has far surpassed totals for the previous three years, a trend law officials attribute to heavy enforcement pressure on crystal methamphetamine operations, crack's relatively low cost and other factors. Through September, authorities seized 671 grams of crack, compared with 442 grams in 2006. In 2005, the haul was 47.91 grams, and 159.2 grams were seized in 2004, according to statistics released by a state, county and federal drug task force. [continues 1042 words]
The state Board of Education last night moved a step closer toward approving a controversial proposal to allow suspicionless searches of student lockers on public school campuses solely at the discretion of principals and school administrators. The board voted 11-1 to allow locker searches "with or without cause," but added a clause that said searches may not be discriminatory. The policy would take effect following public hearings and a final board vote and if approved by Gov. Linda Lingle. Last night's decision at the board's meeting on Moloka'i reversed an earlier decision by a board committee to allow searches of student lockers only if there is suspicion of contraband, such as weapons or drugs. [continues 616 words]
If you live in Hawai'i, you know the price of paradise. The unique cultural mix, beautiful climate and geography, and fantastic cuisine are just a few of the many pleasures. But living this dream often means accepting the reality of lower pay compared to our Mainland counterparts. So it is deeply troubling when the foundation of our community, public school educators, are forced to give up even more - to sacrifice their fundamental right to privacy. By insisting that the Hawai'i State Teachers Association concede to an ill-conceived random drug-testing scheme in return for a badly needed pay increase, Governor Lingle has imperiled not only the fundamental rights of our educators but also the well-being of our students. [continues 605 words]
The recently negotiated contract for public school teachers made drug testing a condition for the granting of pay raises. If the lawsuit challenging the drug testing is successful, are the pay raises canceled? The teachers would no longer be fulfilling a condition of the contract. Or did everyone know in advance that this condition would be removed? Wink, wink. Bill Nelson, Hale'iwa [end]
Volcanic Ash was spot on (Oct. 10) and Richard S. Miller (Oct. 12) missed the target way to the left. The teacher drug tests and student searches are not erosions of our students' freedoms. They are a return to the safe education system that we had before the ultra-liberals took control of the education system in the '70s. Our students' right to an education free of fear, alcohol and drugs is as paramount as my right to safe air travel or automobile travel free of drunken drivers. [continues 68 words]
Allowing sniffing dogs in the schools to seek out evidence of drugs and/or requiring either teachers or students to submit randomly to humiliating drug testing tells both our teachers and our students that they are not to be trusted or respected and creates an atmosphere of hostility and intimidation. That there is little sign "of students rising up in indignation over proposed searches," - as David Shapiro stated in his Oct. 10 Volcanic Ash column - is not a reason to proceed. Rather, it is a dreadful warning sign of kids' sad ignorance of or insensitivity to erosions of our freedoms produced, perhaps, by a failure to teach them adequately about our constitutions and our Bill of Rights. [continues 529 words]
As an employee of the Department of Education and as a resident of the Wai'anae Coast, I can see the merit in drug testing for DOE employees. And I can understand Darlene Tajiri's point (Letters, Oct. 8) regarding the safety and welfare of our keiki and her rights. But there is a big difference between driving a bus and steering a child. Simply put, one is transportation and one is education. [continues 131 words]
Safety More Important Than Privacy Rights I'm having a hard time understanding the arrogance of the teachers of this state. Why would they think they should be exempt from drug testing? Everyone who works with vulnerable communities should be drug tested, which covers a lot of public workers. I'm employed in the private sector and work for an employer that serves the developmentally challenged community. We have mandatory random drug testing, and I have no problem with that. It says that my employers care enough about the consumers they serve to make sure their environment is safe and that they employ individuals who don't put them in harm's way. [continues 96 words]
Rules Must Protect US From False Accusations David Shapiro's support of drug-dog searches in public schools (Volcanic Ash, Oct. 10) is based upon one very important flaw - a belief that only the guilty are accused and prosecuted. He fails to address what will happen to the student whose locker is found to contain contraband, but had nothing to do with putting it there. As we who attended public schools know, all lockers have vent holes, and we have all had unpleasant things pushed into our lockers by other students. [continues 65 words]
To those of you who do not support drug testing for teachers, shame on you. I do not want my keiki around drug abusers, let alone teachers who use drugs. Our keiki spend most of their daytime hours with teachers. Is this what you would want for your keiki? Who are you protecting? I know it is not our keiki. Georgette Stevens Kapolei [end]
You've got to be kidding me. While the ACLU is protecting Hawai'i's public school educators, who is protecting our children? I am an employee who deals with public transportation. Drug testing is required pre-employment, randomly, for probable cause and after an accident. Why is this required of us? For the safety of public transportation. The ACLU says that drug testing violates Hawai'i educators' constitutional right to privacy. What happened to my privacy? I have no problem visiting the bathroom with a plastic cup, simply because I have nothing to hide. As a mother with a child in the public school system, I would feel much better if all teachers were tested, too. Darlene Tajiri Mililani [end]
HILO, Hawai'i -- Large-scale marijuana cultivation in Hawai'i and particularly on the Big Island is moving indoors, and in the past two years police have uncovered increasing numbers of sophisticated indoor farming operations believed to produce millions of dollars worth of illegal crops. The number of police raids on indoor growing operations on the Big Island nearly quadrupled from 2005 to 2006, and is on a course to increase again this year, according to statistics provided by Big Island police Vice Division. [continues 1276 words]
I consider myself a defender of civil liberties and privacy rights, but I'm having trouble getting worked up about disputes in our public schools over searching students' lockers and testing teachers for drugs. There are important privacy issues worth fighting over in the post-9/11 world, but neither of these seem high on the list. Keeping our schools safe and drug free is a high community priority, and both of these measures are reasonable tools for school administrators to have at their disposal as the schools update security. [continues 522 words]
Young people should have rights, just like all the old people trying to take them away. More importantly, locker searches and drug dogs won't address the problem of kids doing drugs. It will only give a false sense of security when nothing is found because the kids will stop keeping it in their lockers, or stop coming to school altogether. Serious drug use affects a person's behavior, and almost always leaves an impression for anyone to see, including teachers and counselors if they are paying attention. [continues 108 words]
The American Civil Liberties Union is expected to deliver a letter to Gov. Linda Lingle today demanding the state halt plans to randomly drug-test public school teachers and employees. After a series of six meetings with hundreds of educators around the state -- the last of which was held last night at Leeward Community College -- the ACLU said it has gathered a list of more than 150 teachers who are willing to participate in a legal challenge of a new contract that allows random drug testing of Hawai'i public school employees. [continues 339 words]
The Board of Education is considering the use of "drug-sniffing dogs" as a tool to fight the substance-abuse crisis in Hawai'i public schools. This program would use dogs that are proficient and certified to detect not only drugs, but alcohol, gunpowder and abused medications. A detection-canine program is critically needed in Hawai'i schools. School canine programs have been proven to be effective and have been supported by courts across the country. News reports have pointed to U.S. Department of Justice findings that Hawai'i has the highest rate in the nation of high school students who drink on campus -- more than twice the national average. And our state is tied for second in the nation for marijuana use on campus. [continues 629 words]
A controversial proposal to allow locker searches solely at the discretion of principals, and the use of drug-sniffing dogs on school campuses statewide, will face a key vote tomorrow. The Board of Education will decide whether principals should have the authority to search student lockers and conduct drug searches with dogs even if they don't have evidence that a student has contraband. Board officials who support the plan say the widened searches would give principals the authority they need to keep drugs and weapons out of schools. [continues 576 words]
Members of the Board of Education are charged with creating and enforcing policies in public schools. This is a daunting task, considering the decisions they make affect the daily educational experience for thousands of students. Each issue, then, merits cautious consideration, with the well-being of our children serving as the ultimate goal. This is especially true today, as the BOE takes on the thorny issue of allowing school officials to search student lockers "with or without cause," in addition to the use of drug-sniffing dogs on campus. [continues 282 words]
Honolulu finished at or near the bottom of the 20 largest U.S. cities in terms of the number of reported incidents of violent and property crime in 2006, according to statistics released yesterday by the FBI. Honolulu ranked 20th in the nation in the number of violent crimes and 16th in property crime, according to the FBI. New York City reported the most crimes of any city in the United States last year, according to the report. A nearly 9 percent drop in Honolulu crime overall last year was offset by a 5.9 percent increase in murders, robberies, assaults and other violent crime, however. The violent crime spike was the greatest percentage increase in Honolulu since 2001. [continues 576 words]
Whether or not the American Civil Liberties Union succeeds in its "trolling for teachers" publicity stunt to overturn a contract provision for random drug testing, three points are worth remembering: Teaching is a calling, not a mere job -- teachers occupy a unique position of trust and influence. The issue is not one of privacy -- there is no such thing as a right to teach children. Parents and other taxpayers should reasonably be able to expect that public schools will be drug free and especially that classroom teachers in whose care their children are entrusted remain clean and sober. [continues 84 words]
Law enforcement officials uprooted more than 8,000 marijuana plants valued at more than $8 million in a 10-day statewide operation that ended yesterday on Kaua'i. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, police officers from four counties, Hawai'i Air National Guard, Coast Guard and state Department of Land & Natural Resources conducted the annual "Super Mission" operation, formerly known as "Green Harvest." The sweep began last Tuesday on the Big Island, moved to Maui and Moloka'i over the weekend, O'ahu on Monday and Tuesday, and finished up on Kaua'i Wednesday and yesterday. [continues 168 words]
The American Civil Liberties Union plans a legal challenge to a new contract that allows random drug testing of Hawai'i public school employees and is actively seeking people who want to be part of the lawsuit, the group announced yesterday. ACLU leaders will begin touring the state later this month to meet with unionized public school employees who are subject to the tests under the terms of their new collective bargaining agreement. The group is looking for teachers and others who want to be plaintiffs in the lawsuit that will challenge the testing program, said Lois Perrin, legal director of the ACLU of Hawai'i. [continues 239 words]
State Board of Education officials expect to encounter vocal opposition next month when they take up a proposal to allow locker searches and the use of drug-sniffing dogs on school campuses statewide. But even as the American Civil Liberties Union, legal experts, some principals and students express concern over the proposed revisions to the schools' disciplinary code, board members say they expect the proposal will pass when taken up by the full board at a yet-to-be-scheduled meeting. [continues 581 words]
The use of marijuana in the workplace decreased sharply in the second quarter of this year, after nearly a year of steady growth, according to statistics released by Diagnostic Laboratory Services. "The significant drop in marijuana use is great news," said Carl A. Linden, Diagnostic Laboratory Services' scientific director. He said the numbers haven't been this low in a year. Linden noted that his lab's latest numbers show a decline in overall drug use detected to 3.2 percent of all employees tested. "That usually translates into a workplace that is more productive and safe," he said. [continues 132 words]
KAPOLEI -- Citizen patrol groups will spend part of this Friday at a seminar learning how to protect their neighborhoods from drug pushers and users. The Honolulu Police Department's District 8 Community Policing Team is sponsoring the region's first Crystal Meth Awareness training seminar at the Kapolei Golf Course Clubhouse, in what officials say is an effort to educate neighborhood patrols about the effects of the highly addictive drug, known locally as ice, on individual users and communities. The seminar, scheduled to run from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., will host about 55 groups made up of nearly 200 people, according to Officer Tony Pacheco of the Kapolei Police Station. Members of the patrol groups will be schooled on a variety of meth issues that they will then take back to their groups and neighbors "to help spread the word," Pacheco said. [continues 355 words]
Employers will be able to use an on-site oral screening kit to test their employees for drug use, under a new state law that goes into effect July 1. The oral fluid drug screens, which are cheaper, faster and more convenient than urinalysis, were pushed for by the construction industry, which has been drug-testing its employees since the mid-1980s. Although the law goes into effect in a couple of weeks, collective bargaining agreements will have to be amended before companies can start using these non-FDA-approved tests. [continues 447 words]
Drug Testing The week before the teacher's conference, Gov. Linda Lingle slammed the negotiations team with an unprecedented demand - accept random drug testing or the contract package that was on the table was going to be taken away. Random means you are subjecting a percentage of teachers with a test that has shown to have 30 percent false positives. However, HSTA is already behind drug testing, as long as it is done with reasonable suspicions! Under Lingle's draconian, scapegoat proposal a totally clean teacher could register a false positive, and then have his or her image ruined in the community once that information got out. A teacher could eat a poppy seed muffin or be prescribed some legal medication or purchase an over-the-counter medicine and trigger a false positive. [continues 134 words]
Drug Testing Regarding the continued whining by numerous public school teachers regarding drug testing, and its supposed violation of their constitutional rights, the Supreme Court has ruled that such testing is legal. Millions of federal government, state and commercial enterprise employees throughout the United States are subject to testing, and it's no big deal. Now the teachers union is talking about bringing a lawsuit to stop the testing, money which could be much better spent on teachers' benefits. I only wish that those who are so adamantly opposed to drug testing would devote a similar effort to bring our public schools up to No Child Left Behind standards, and maybe the Hawai'i public school system wouldn't be in the shape it's in now. 'Aiea [end]
HILO, Hawai'i -- The marijuana eradication program on the Big Island hit a political bump when the County Council voted to delete funding for the program from the county budget, but the council isn't likely to end the anti-drug program. The council voted 5-4 Wednesday to remove $582,000 in federal eradication funding from the budget for the year beginning July 1. Money for the program would be formally excluded from the spending plan if the council approves the amended budget in a second vote on June 1. [continues 388 words]
Drug Use By Teachers Is All Hype, Not Reality To all those who are fooled by the state administration's calling for drug testing of all our public school teachers: Wake up. There is absolutely no evidence that even one Hawai'i public school student has been harmed either emotionally or physically by a teacher allegedly under the influence of, or possession of, illegal drugs. Additionally, there is not one documented or otherwise proven incident of a teacher selling or providing drugs to a student. So where is the threat? Politics and hype, you might say. If Governor Lingle and company were really concerned about the safety of our keiki, then random drug and alcohol testing of all licensed drivers would make more sense. Jake Bradley Waipi'o Gentry [end]
The people are missing the point of Lee Cataluna's column on May 6. I have been an art educator for more than 30 years, and yes, teachers work 40 to 60 hours per week. Teachers are highly educated people and dedicated to their careers. So instead of wasting money on drug testing, maybe lower class size to 18 students, or provide more money for supplies or more money for after-school activities that would keep the children off the streets, where the drugs really are. Paul Nash Kane'ohe [end]
Teachers Had Reason To Reject New Contract I am just curious about the thinking of those who continue to criticize the teachers who voted to reject the new contract including random drug testing. Would you enter into a contract where important details are to be worked out later? Would you encourage your child to enter into agreements based on blind trust, where they have no clear idea of how they will be impacted by their decision? Why criticize those of us who chose to do what only made sense instead of voting yes just to prove we are not afraid of being tested? Trudy Just Moore 'Aiea [end]
In 1972, Stanley Cohen described a moral panic as "a condition, episode, person or groups of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylized and stereotypical fashion by the mass media; sometimes the panics passes over and is forgotten; at other times it has more serious and long-lasting repercussions and might produce such changes as those in legal and social policy." [continues 196 words]
I read with amazement at how many people are ignorant about the process of random drug testing. Some people write about how showing their private parts is an intrusion of their privacy. People, get over it. Random drug testing is not the same as military drug testing. I was a drug-testing coordinator, and the process doesn't have anything to do with looking at your parts. People are asked to provide a sample, and they can close the toilet room door while providing the sample. The only requirement is that the sample meet the body temperature in the bottle. Please, those people out there that think that they have to be observed are naive. People need to do research before they start complaining about privacy. Luis A. Gonzalez 'Ewa Beach [end]
Regarding Olivia Cockcroft's and Peter Hansen's letters to the editor (April 29) expressing bewilderment as to how the governor along with the HSTA and DOE had somehow leveraged random drug testing in exchange for "manini" pay raises: It's laughable. When was the last union contract negotiated where pay raises were not part of the "boiler plate," if you will? The fact is the drug testing was just another part of the agreement and had nothing to do with the increase. [continues 99 words]
There are many places of employment where random drug testing is mandatory. I don't know why teachers are against it. I have worked in the medical field for many years, and most or almost all healthcare facilities and hospitals require mandatory drug testing. Teachers expect to receive a raise whether they are good teachers or not. There are some great teachers, but I've also seen some really bad teachers. So, teachers, get over it and do what is needed to provide education to our keiki. Barbara Lutte Wai'anae [end]
Some constitutional law experts say the random drug-testing clause in the newly approved public school teachers contract could be a violation of teachers' privacy and civil rights and may make a strong case if challenged in court. "The many teachers who voted against the contract would seem to me to have a solid basis for challenging the drug-testing requirement," said Jon Van Dyke, a professor of constitutional law at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. "Constitutional rights of this magnitude cannot be lightly waived. And one group cannot waive the constitutional rights of another." [continues 1679 words]
Let's see, in Lee Cataluna's column on May 6 she states that random drug testing is "for parolees and residents of halfway houses." I guess that means that members of the active military, Reserves and Guard, a large number of federal and state employees, truck drivers with a hazmat certification, local members of several unions associated with the construction industry, and many, many others living in the Islands who have no problem with being randomly tested are, or have been, parolees or residents or graduates of halfway houses. What an indiscriminate shot at so many good people trying to do their best to make our society better -- and this from a columnist who usually has a very high standard of journalism. How very depressing. Tony Roberts 'Ewa Beach [end]
This is in response to Mel McKeague's letter (May 5) regarding his opposition to random drug testing for Hawai'i's teachers. As a seventh-grade student and a military child, I am appalled you would suggest that asking teachers to take part in random drug tests is un-American. My father has served in the U.S. Navy for more than 16 years. All military service members (including my dad) are subject to random drug testing, regardless of rank. This policy helps ensure that the U.S. remains "the land of the free and home of the brave." [continues 88 words]
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. [continues 167 words]
Teachers have voted to accept a contract that, in addition to providing a healthy pay raise, requires that members agree to random drug testing. The majority made a difficult choice and, although some opponents may feel wounded by the reality of the vote, it's up to the Hawai'i State Teachers Association leadership to get past that. That's why it was distressing to hear HSTA President Roger Takabayashi addressing listeners of a radio broadcast with more rhetoric about the perceived "slap in the face" of the drug-testing program. [continues 307 words]
Why would teachers resist random drug testing if they are not using drugs? Why do some of them think that it's insulting and demoralizing to their profession, and why would it be more difficult to recruit teachers from the Mainland? Do teachers think they are better than the rest of us? Where is their dedication to and concern for students? Some organizations have had random drug testing of their employees for years. I think it would be wise and beneficial for all other professions, including doctors, lawyers and legislators, to be subject to random drug testing. If a person is not using illegal drugs, there is no reason for resisting drug testing, especially given the high number of crimes caused by substance abuse. Marsha Gibson Makiki [end]
While I am not opposed to drug testing, I am opposed to the new teacher contract, which requires it. It is disgusting how teachers are being targeted during this witch hunt. All state and county workers should be drug-tested, including politicians. Gov. Linda Lingle should take a drug test as a show of support for the teachers. Both of my parents were teachers, and I can't imagine their privacy being violated in such a way. No pay increase is worth your dignity. Lindsay Furuya Honolulu [end]
Chuck Little (Letters, May 1) can't be serious. No teacher is claiming the use of illegal drugs as a civil right. That's just ludicrous. What teachers are claiming is the Fourth Amendment protects them from "unreasonable searches and seizures." I'm a naturalized American citizen. I come from a country in which these rights are nonexistent, and people can be searched and arrested without cause at any time. Is this the type of political system Mr. Little would prefer we have? [continues 81 words]
Drug-Testing Program About Protecting Keiki This is in response to Coleen Ashworth's letter (May 2) regarding random drug testing of teachers and what she calls a "violation of the Constitution." Her letter is proof of the constitutionality of the policy. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable search. What is unreasonable about random drug testing for teachers and other employees with access to our children? Why wouldn't she support a policy that protects our children? If the current system is sufficient, as suggested in her letter, then we would see more disciplinary actions from the Department of Education, not the Honolulu Police Department. [continues 111 words]
Would someone please give me a valid reason why teachers are so opposed to random drug testing? What do they have to hide? It is hardly a violation of their Fourth Amendment rights. No one is coming into your house unwarranted or seizing personal belongings. All that is required is a urine test ... oh, and don't do drugs. If teachers opposed to the new random drug-testing requirement are mad at anyone, be mad at the teachers who brought the scrutiny on the teaching community. I have read that some teachers think this will deter some people from becoming teachers or cause some teachers in Hawaii to quit or leave. If your conviction for teaching is that weak, then you shouldn't be a teacher. Dan Melton, Kane'ohe [end]
