IT'S PRETTY PATHETIC WHEN CLASS PREZ DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT RIGHTS

This letter is written in response to the "Students Should Quit Their
Whining About Alex Drug Testing" letter in the July 28 edition of The
Athens NEWS.

While you are a student of public schools, the school DOES NOT own you or
your "little feet." Getting an education isn't just about books and grades.
We are also learning how to participate fully in the life of our nation. In
order to participate, we need to know our rights or we might lose them.

The highest law in America is the Constitution. The Bill of Rights applies
to young people as well as adults, and the First Amendment guarantees our
right to free expression and association. In a nutshell, the government
doesn't have the right to forbid us from saying and writing what we like.

In 1969's Tinker vs. Des Moines Co. Schools the Supreme Court ruled that
students in public schools do not leave their rights at the schoolhouse
gate. Students can express their opinions orally and in writing. You can
create leaflets, buttons, armbands, t-shirts, petitions and brochures.

Keep in mind that you can express your opinions in a way that doesn't
materially or substantially disrupt school activities. If you block
entrance to the school, officials can stop you. The school can place
reasonable limits on time, place and manner of distribution but they may
not sponsor only one side of a controversy. If they allow an article in the
school newspaper for the drug policy, they cannot refuse to run one against
it. They can stop you from using language that is vulgar or indecent, so
watch the dirty words, OK?

This next comment is directed toward the parents of the kids labeled
"Whiney Little Peons." Have your children read this letter so they can know
that they too have rights. I'm not going to voice my opinion on the
drug-testing policy right now because it is apparent that there are larger
problems in our school systems. Problems like class presidents, let alone
the average student, not knowing that they have rights. If the schools are
going to teach students about the Constitution and leave out the part that
it doesn't just pertain to those who have hit the 18-year mark, it's your
job as a parent to do so.

Jessica L. Smith

2005 graduate

Alexander High School