Pubdate: Thu, 15 Sep 2005
Source: Athens News, The (OH)
Copyright: 2005, Athens News
Contact:  http://www.athensnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1603
Author: Doug Keiter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

OPPOSITION TO DRUG TESTING PART OF PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY

I would like to respond to some of the statements made by Mr. Hayburn in 
his Sept. 5 letter to the editor regarding the drug-testing policy recently 
implemented by the Alexander School District. Mr. Hayburn begins by 
stating, "Everyone has said his or her piece on the student drug-testing 
policy at Alexander." I have actually seen relatively few public statements 
about the policy, considering the number of people living in the Alexander 
School District. Based on the actions taken by the school board, I would 
have expected an outpouring of support from members of the community. Also 
conspicuously absent are any public statements from any Alexander school 
district administrator in support of the policy.

While Mr. Hayburn's letter seems to focus on the use of steroids by 
high-school athletes, it is important to note that the Alexander 
drug-testing policy does not include tests for steroids or nicotine. At 
least two of the Alexander School Board members have stated that the 
drug-testing policy does not cover steroids because the costs are 
prohibitive. However, according to public statements made by the school 
board president and repeated in the "Drug and Alcohol FAQs" posted on the 
district Web site (www.alexanderschools.org), the district does not test 
for steroids because they do not "impair the function of student athletes" 
and that money is not the issue.

I am not afraid of my children testing positive for drugs nor do I have 
anything to hide. I am concerned with our society's continuing acceptance 
of the erosion of the rights of many due to the actions of a few, which is 
often the result of a lack of creativity from various authority figures on 
how to address a particular problem.

No clear evidence has been presented to the Alexander parents or community 
supporting the existence of a serious drug problem in our middle school and 
high school. No evidence has been shown that other actions have been taken 
to reduce what problem does exist. No measurements have been proposed to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the expensive drug-testing policy that our 
school board has forced upon the district. There is no evidence that 
significant research was performed by anybody in the district surrounding 
implementation of the policy.

And if a serious drug problem does exist, no effort has been made to 
communicate the magnitude of the problem to the parents and the community. 
If the district has a drug problem serious enough to warrant this kind of 
action, shouldn't the parents have been informed early and often? If the 
district is going to spend up to $25,000 a year on a drug-prevention 
program, shouldn't the program be designed to benefit all of the district's 
students, not just the athletes and kids who drive to school?

The drug policy is not necessarily "there to stay." Board members serve 
four-year terms at the discretion of the community. Three of the Alexander 
School Board members face re-election this November and the other two in 2007.

Finally, I disagree that stating facts and questioning decisions that have 
considerable impact on my children and community should be described as 
"griping and complaining" or "whining and crying." I call it "participating 
in democracy."

Doug Keiter, Alexander parent and alumnus

Chase Road

Athens 
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman