METRO RIGHT ON DRUG POLICY

It is reassuring that Metro's school board is not inclined to implement
drug tests of students in extracurricular activities.

The U.S. Supreme Court, ruling in an Oklahoma case in June, issued a 5-4
decision that said drug testing was a "reasonably effective" way for the
district to address concerns about drug use. The district's policy, deemed
constitutional by the court, is to test kids in extracurricular activities
such as sports and band.

Metro board member Patricia Crotwell appropriately poses the question: "If
we put in a policy to test students who are involved in extracurricular
activities, what are we trying to accomplish?"

Good question. A broad drug testing policy could do more harm than good.
Participating in extracurricular programs should be inviting to students.
Drug testing could be a disincentive. Moreover, the basic privacy rights of
students cannot be ignored.

Fortunately, Metro seems to be in line with the rest of the nation. Only
about 5% of schools have performed drug tests on athletes, with another 2%
testing those in other extracurricular events, according to a University of
Michigan study.

One factor working against drug tests is that they're expensive, costing
between $25-$60 per test. Nevertheless, Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., has
called for legislation appropriating $100 million in federal funds for
districts that want to test students. That's a bad idea. If school
districts want to test, the cost should be borne by taxpayers in that
district, not federal taxpayers.

The best approach is what the Metro system now uses. Students suspected by
school officials of using, selling or possessing drugs may be suspended and
an investigation can be conducted, with parents and police informed and
school counselors brought in.

Such cases, fortunately, are the unusual. There were 186 drug-related
incidents in Metro schools last year among the system's 70,000 students. It
makes more sense to act where drug activity is suspected, not subject all
students in extracurricular activities to a testing plan for no good reason.