Pubdate: Tue, 09 Apr 2002
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Erin Evans
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

FORCED DRUG TESTS ARE UNREASONABLE SEARCHES

In 1995, the Supreme Court ruled that schools are allowed to test student 
athletes for drugs. Now, the Supreme Court is deciding on whether they 
should expand that law to make it acceptable to drug test students involved 
in other extracurricular activities, ranging from band and choir to chess 
club. This would be a major step toward allowing drug testing of all 
students. Drug tests invade students' privacy and violate the 
Constitution's Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable 
searches. It doesn't make sense to single out and drug test students who 
participate in extracurricular programs because these activities help keep 
students away from drugs. Drug tests may even discourage some students from 
participating in extracurricular activities. Instead of spending money on 
drug tests, schools should put that money toward drug prevention programs 
to help educate students about the dangers of drugs. If a school is 
suspicious of drugs being abused by students, they should talk to the 
student's parents. They will know if there is another explanation or they 
can decide to have their child tested and deal with the results at home. 
Drug abuse and drug testing is an issue for families, not schools.

Erin Evans,

Cullowhee
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom