TECUMSEH RESIDENT SUPPORTS DRUG TESTING

To the Editor:

On March 22, 2001, the news media reported two disturbing stories: first,
that the Federal Government is losing the "war on drugs" and second that
the Tecumseh School District's drug testing policy has been declared
unconstitutional.

I fear that most people will regard these as just news stories and that
they have forgotten that we, the citizens of this community, state and
nation, are the federal government and that it is we who are losing the war.

I suggest that we have drawn our battle lines in the wrong direction.
Perhaps our judicial system has forgotten the definition of a democracy.

In this world of political correctness and individual rights our courts
seem to think the rights of the majority no longer merit consideration. Our
judicial system is a branch of our federal government and it should be
truly interested in what is best for the majority of the citizens of this
country, and a little common sense should be used in its decision making.

When the Tecumseh School District wrote its drug testing policy it did so
with the best interest of its students and this community in mind.

It was never the intention of this school system to criminalize, isolate or
harm anyone. Instead the intention was to use "an ounce of prevention" to
protect the rights of the majority of the students who wish to attend
school in a drug-free environment.

I commend the Tecumseh School Board and administration for its unwavering
stance on maintaining a drug-free environment for the youth of this community.

This battle may have been lost, but the war isn't over. This should be
nothing more than a challenge to come back harder and stronger than ever.
We all must realize that the Tecumseh School District, unlike the ACLU,
cannot prevail without the moral and financial support of this community
and other communities like ours.

Jack Anderson
Tecumseh