DRUG TEST COMPROMISE IS A GOOD ONE

March 14, 2006 Cooler heads prevailed, and more of our children and
parents will be served by the compromise reached by the
Williamsburg-James City County School Board. Drug and alcohol abuse,
believe it or not, often begins in middle school. This policy will
serve many more students and parents than the original policy.

In my 28 years in education, it was apparent that many parents are
afraid to do this on their own for fear that "my child will not like
me." To ask a government agency to drug test your child is like
saying you are not capable of doing this on your own. It is your
right as a parent. If parents exercised their rights, we would have
far fewer problems than we have now.

Why is it that children know more about drugs and alcohol than their
parents? Why are parents being "fooled" by their children? A
comprehensive drug and alcohol prevention program must begin with a
program designed to educate parents as well as students. It will be
interesting to see how many parents do attend educational sessions
designed for them.

What is wrong with a compromise? To claim this is a watered-down
policy is ludicrous. This nation was built on compromise. To claim
that the School Board succumbed to political wrangling is to deny
that most of the members are elected.

What we have now is a way for those who seek the help of the schools
to get it and for those who wish to exercise their parental rights to
do so on their own. The real winners were our children, for now there
is no chance of any child being labeled by others. Now there is no
excuse for any parent to blame anyone else for the actions of their children.

Parents and students, the ball is in our court now, where it belongs.
It is time for all of us to step up; sign the permission form or take
care of this as a family. Hooray for political wrangling, and hooray
for compromise.

Mike Bonfiglio

Principal/director

Point Option/New Summits

Newport News Public Schools