Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jul 2002
Source: Warwick Beacon (RI)
Copyright: 2002 Warwick Beacon
Contact:  http://www.warwickonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1810
Author: Thomas Angell

AFTER-SCHOOL DRUG TESTING WOULD TURN STUDENTS TO STREETS

As an American citizen, I am appalled at the Supreme Court's recent 
approval of random drug testing for public high school students who want to 
participate in extracurricular activities.  After-school programs are an 
effective way to keep high-risk teenagers off of the streets in the 
critical hours between the end of the school day and the time that their 
parents come home from work.  Now, because of the Supreme Court's decision, 
these same high-risk teens will be turned towards the streets where they 
are more likely to experiment with drugs, instead of being welcomed into 
safe, productive, and effective learning environments.

At least Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day 
O'Connor, and David Souter can see that random drug testing for high school 
students who want to participate in extracurricular activities is "not 
reasonable, it is capricious, even perverse."  Our children should not be 
subjected to this dangerous policy.  Any school that institutes such 
testing is sure to receive a pile of letters from angry parents who are 
concerned for the well being of their children.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens