Pubdate: Sat, 13 Jul 2002
Source: St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Copyright: 2002 St. Petersburg Times
Contact:  http://www.sptimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Authors: Eliska Adema, Brenda Wallis
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1237/a05.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

DRUG TESTING ISN'T THE ANSWER

Re: Support for drug testing of students.

The letter writers who support drug testing in schools do so with empty 
arguments. To justify such support by stating the obvious -- no one wants 
adolescents using drugs -- is an emotional twist to the logic that the ends 
justifies the means.

To assume that random drug sampling will prevent an individual from using 
drugs is just plain inaccurate. Ask any probation officer whose client 
routinely fails these screens despite the threat of imprisonment. Ask any 
nurse who delivers baby after baby to drug positive mothers who know they 
will be tested at that child's birth.

Stating that children don't have rights is the most ludicrous of all. If 
that's the case, let's disband Family Continuity and Child Protective 
Services immediately and allow child abuse to go on. After all, what right 
does a child have to protection?

Finally, the most annoying and dangerous argument of all: Parents would 
want to know if their children are using drugs. Really? I have some good 
advice for the parents -- drug test them yourself. Start being parents and 
stop expecting schools, social service agencies and other outside entities 
to do your job. Services are available to accomplish this, and would 
protect the rights of students caught up in the "reefer madness" of this 
century.

Eliska Adema, Largo

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ASKING FOR MORE RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Re: Student testing helps parents to fight drugs, letter, July 5.

The letter writer says that by removing the constitutional rights of our 
children, we are helping parents to deal with their children's drug 
problems. It was most disturbing to find out that the letter writer, 
Calvina Fay, happens to be the executive director of Drug Free America 
Foundation in St. Petersburg.

As far as believing that this blatant violation of privacy would help 
children save face in front of their peers by using this travesty of 
justice as an excuse, what about the excuse that "I play sports, and I need 
to stay in good health?" I guess that's not "cool" enough. I agree with Ms. 
Fay, when she says that early detection can deter and prevent drug 
addiction. But perhaps the problem is not in the school's sports programs. 
Perhaps the problem is in the communication between parents and their children.

Perhaps Ms. Fay should be educating the parents. Be sure to tell them that 
if they pay attention to and talk with their children, they'll probably 
become aware of what is going on in their children's lives. You might also 
look at the drug addiction of the parents. Shall we drug test the parents 
of the children who play sports in school as well? Maybe we should have CNN 
do a new vote to see how many parents would agree to that? To take away the 
student's rights is simply opening a flood gate to future violations of 
everyone's rights.

Brenda Wallis, Dunedin
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