DRUG POLICY MESS

I attended a very poorly conducted meeting Aug. 6 at Sullivan Central
concerning the Sullivan County drug testing policy for the 2001-2002
school year. Central's principal/athletic director, David H. Ward was
in charge of explaining the new policy, as well as the testing
procedure student-athletes are expected to undergo if participating
in sports in the county. Very little information actually regarding
the county's drug testing policy was clearly explained, and the
majority of the meeting was spent by Mr. Ward explaining how the
county chose the least expensive of the four possible vendors to
administer the test.

During the question session of the meeting, Mr. Ward assured those in
attendance that other school systems in the area were testing their
student-athletes. When asked to provide rationale for our county
following suit, Mr. Ward was unable to give clear reasons, stating he
did not create the policy, he merely reviewed it. Where were the
taxpayers, the ultimate funders of these tests, when this policy was
being created? Where were the school board representatives Monday
night when concerned parents were trying to understand the need, the
accuracy and the legality of such tests?

As a former student in this school system, and as a present educator,
I also wonder why we have chosen to discriminate against one portion
of our student body. Why have athletes been singled out? Various
studies show that student-athletes are often highly motivated young
people. People who are high achieving, intrinsic learners, and who
successfully divide their time between schoolwork and sports. While I
am aware that drug use among school age children is a fact, I believe
we are focusing too much on a group less likely than some others to
use illegal drugs. When will we test the drama students, band members
or honor roll kids? Will the AP students be tested before or after
their exams?

Monday's meeting points out several disturbing facts. The principal
was unprepared for the meeting, the school board is uncaring of their
constituents' concerns and those attending displayed their
frustration by walking out of the meeting. The walkout, was, in fact,
an extremely poor method of demonstrating our views; however, are the
students and parents not entitled to concise and accurate
explanations to their questions before testing? I suggest the school
board educate Mr. Ward on its standing policy, so he may in turn give
the parents and athletes accurate answers in the future, his frequent
"I don't know" is just unsatisfactory.

Amanda Davis

Knoxville