SOMETIMES AN 'EASY OUT' IS THE BEST WAY

As much as we hate to admit it, there's a drug problem in our
community. It might not be as horrendous an issue as some other
communities deal with, but any problem at all is bad.

A neighboring school district is considering a drug and alcohol
testing policy for students in extracurricular and co-curricular
activities. At least one school administrator said he feels a
testing policy would actually help students say no to the
temptations of drugs and alcohol.

North Washington Elementary Assistant Principal Chris Holderman said
he believes simply the fear of being tested would allow students to
say no if they're offered drugs or alcohol, without appearing weak
to their friends or others.

In March, the News-Journal published a letter to the editor from a
high school junior in Berwyn, Pa. He was an advocate of mandatory
random drug testing. He said the main objective of student drug
testing is to provide students with a solid reason to say "no."
Whether it be in the locker room, in the classroom or at a party, he
wrote, random drug testing gives students an opportunity to choose
their future over peer pressure.

Of course, the following week, a man from New Jersey took issue with
the student's letter and said the only proven way to keep kids clean
and sober is through education. "Let the schools stick to teaching
and let parents do their job at home."

As a parent of three, I hope (and pray) that I know my children well
enough to discern whether they might someday use drugs. But I also
know that peer pressure is difficult to resist for even the best of kids.

(I've also asked all three of my children at one time or another
whether they brushed their teeth after their bath and been told
"yes" when their toothbrush was as dry as a bone.)

Only 13 percent of the nation's high schools have a drug-testing
policy, according to a recent survey by the National Federation of
State High School Associations.

We have one of those schools here.

In November 2003, we published a story about local schools' drug
testing policies. While Campbellsville Schools randomly drug tests
its athletes, Taylor County Schools doesn't.

During the 2002-2003 school year, basketball coach Troy Young said
his players decided that volunteering for drug testing was the right
thing to do. All players that year volunteered and none tested positive.

However, no player was to be suspended for a positive test. The
consequences of a positive drug test were a conference with school
officials and a requirement to attend counseling. No player would be
suspended from school or from playing basketball.

Across town, at Campbellsville High, athletes in all sports are
subject to a random drug test. The District's policy allows a 15
percent random sample twice each sports season in both middle and
high schools. A Campbellsville student has two options if a drug
test is positive.

The student may choose to complete a drug assistance program and
undergo weekly tests until he or she tests negative. Once the
student tests negative, he or she may return to participating in
athletic activities.

The student's second option is to take a nine-week suspension from
school athletics. At the end of the nine-week suspension, he or she
must pass a drug test before being allowed to return to sports.

Campbellsville's policy appears to be a very fair one, with the
students' best interests at the forefront. Other schools should follow suit.

The idea of giving kids an "easy out" would work just as well in
this situation as any other I can think of.