HARSH 'DRUG' PENALTIES ARE UNFAIR IN PARTICULAR CASES

In a letter printed March 29, Dr. James Hamilton asked: "Exactly what
circumstances or situation make it acceptable or even reasonable for a
high school student to use or be in possession of drugs?" Perhaps his
definition of drugs is limited to the ones he writes on a prescription
form and the illegal street drugs.

The "zero tolerance" policies at high schools are not so limited in
their scope.

A student carrying aspirin or Tylenol for a headache or, heaven
forbid, a girl having Midol or Pamprin in her backpack for cramps can
be suspended and transferred to another school.

No difference is permitted between these and "pot" or "crack" by most
"zero tolerance" policies. Perhaps these are some of the reasonable
circumstances or situations that Karen Wanberg was referring to in her
letter of March 23 about the school policies.

Gwen C. Berger
Anaheim