THE TROUBLE WITH DRUG TESTING

The zero-tolerance policy involving students and drug testing is a severe
violation of privacy. As a student at Paramus High School, I cannot agree
with the state of New Jersey's views, which state that students must be
tested for drugs, regardless of the circumstances.

While some extreme qualifying factors may signify that a drug test is
necessary, many of the other explanations for forcing students to take a
drug test are ridiculous. For example, students who fall asleep in class
may be on drugs . . . or they could just be tired from a long night of
studying.

One of the biggest problems in my school is smoking; you can walk into any
one of the bathrooms at any given time and walk out smelling like smoke.
Does this mean that I, along with the entire student body, smoke?

Of course not. But is it really necessary to test every student in the
school to find out who is smoking? This would be time-consuming and costly,
as well as a violation of everyone's privacy.

While cigarettes are not illegal drugs, the principle is the same; while
under certain circumstances it is acceptable to conduct a drug test, there
must be sufficient indications to show that it is essential.

Melanie Kaufer, Paramus, June 25