TEACHERS KNOW PEERS HAVE DRUG PROBLEMS

The problem of drugs with teachers and staff at our public schools is
huge. The majority of the teachers recognize this and that is why they
voted to accept the policy of random testing. Teachers by definition
do not make life choices for the money and would not, could not make
this choice for a few dollars more. Administrators and staff should
also be tested. I did my student teaching at two different high
schools and taught until retirement at an intermediate school. At one
school the pakalolo smoke made at least one classroom look like
Beijing on a good day.

The constitutional question is a red herring or, if you prefer, a
shibai. What about the police and fire departments and all the private
corporations that test employees, not to mention folks like the Coast
Guard? What about the time when all teachers were tested for TB? Drugs
in our schools is a health issue, and I don't mean just the kids.

Our island state has led the way in so many commonsense areas; labor
relations, civil rights, the right to choose, to name just a few. Let
let our teachers lead the way to a drug-free culture.The managers of
the drug industry definitely would not like that.

James Haley

Kailua