Pubdate: Fri, 26 Jul 2002
Source: Times Leader (PA)
Copyright: 2002 The Times Leader
Contact:  http://www.leader.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/933
Author: Kelly Rembish
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

COURT'S RANDOM STUDENT DRUG TEST DECISION SHOULD BE CAUSE FOR PUBLIC OUTCRY

The fever over the 9th Circuit Court's decision regarding the Pledge of 
Allegiance has allowed a critical decision by the Supreme Court to pass all 
too quietly with hardly a comment or note of outrage.

In a split decision the Court has ruled to allow random drug testing for 
all children who participate in any school activities, including chess 
clubs, chorus, band and honors clubs. The decision tramples the Fourth 
Amendment's guarantee of a person's right to be secure in their "persons 
... against unreasonable searches and seizures," as well as a parent's 
right to be consulted in relation to medical procedures.

Any child can be forced to submit to a urine sample to test for illegal 
drugs, without consent of the child or parent. The court finds that the 
need for drug-free campus supersedes the right to privacy - essentially 
negating the Fourth Amendment.

I fail to understand how this ruling has brought no criticism from the 
general population. Several weeks ago there had been a tremendous uproar 
surrounding the principal in a California school who went on thong 
(underwear) patrol during a school dance. In my opinion, this ruling should 
bring the same amount of public outcry. Urine testing holds the same 
humiliation, disrespect and loss of privacy, as did the random thong test.

Our children are required to consult a parent on medical decisions; in 
accordance with this, it should be required of a school to have permission 
to perform a medical test on our children.

Kelly Rembish

Wilkes-Barre
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MAP posted-by: Beth