DRUG TESTING LATEST EXAMPLE OF DISTRICT'S NON-SUPPORT OF STUDENTS

My daughter graduated from Alexander High School last year. She was an
excellent student and continues to be in college.

I found myself thinking, what I would do if she were still at Alex, playing
volleyball, driving her car and being subjected to drug testing?I went from
zero to furious in about two seconds.

What I know from previous experiences with Alexander High School is that it
is NOT a supportive atmosphere for students.

Stupid adolescent mistakes, not unlike the ones we all made at that age,
are blown out of proportion. Instead of reacting in a collaborative process
with parents to teach students about making better choices, the reactions
have often been punitive.

Bob Bray and some of the teachers at Alexander have earned my respect and
admiration for their rapport with students and parents. Unfortunately, many
of us are aware that decisions made by some teachers, staff and school
board members of Alexander school district have not been and will not be in
our children's best interest.

Drug testing will be no different. False positives will be prosecuted first
and questioned later.

The message to students from the Alexander School Board seems to be: We
know you're doing something wrong, we will catch you and you will pay.

Any parent who has tried this line of reasoning with an adolescent knows
how destructive it is to a supposedly trusting and nurturing relationship.

There are parents and students who do not trust the Alexander school
system, and for good reason.

The decision to implement this policy without the input of the community
further justifies this mistrust.

If this decision had been made to protect rather than penalize students,
the school board would have sought input from parents, students, medical
and drug and alcohol professionals, not just attorneys.

So, I asked myself, what I would do if my daughter attended Alexander this
year?

I decided I would firmly plant my feet and say absolutely NO!

I would support her in saying absolutely NO! I would use every resource
available to insure and protect her rights as an individual and as a student.

If we have learned anything from history, we must know that our individual
rights and freedoms should never be taken for granted.

Many have paid a high price to give us those rights and neither the
students, nor their parents, should allow them to be taken away by a school
board with a questionable agenda.

Sue Meeks, RN, Certified

Alexander Class of 1972

Athens