DRUG TESTING FOR CHILDREN IS THE PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITY

To the editor: In response to the article on drug testing in the schools in
The Eagle-Tribune May 29: I find it appalling that we are again attempting
to make the schools responsible for something that is a parent's
responsibility. The state plans on budgeting $100,000 each to Andover and
North Andover for drug testing and counseling of a child if warranted and
if the parents so desire. In light of all of the budget cuts that are
happening in our school systems, including loss of curriculum, teachers,
school nurses, librarians, I feel that this money would be better used in
another capacity. If parents feel that their children need to be drug
tested, then they need to be utilizing their doctors and their health
insurance, not the public school system.

Massachusetts is set up so that every child is entitled to health insurance
if needed.

Why do we need to allot monies to a school system for something that is
already available by another means? If a child has it in his mind that he
or she is going to do drugs, he or she is going to do them. I highly doubt
that the threat of drug testing at schools is going to stop them from using.

For those of us that have kids or are involved with kids know that they
have a mind of their own. "Threats" do not work as a way to discourage
behavior.

Parents need to be involved with their kids. Know where they are, who they
are with, what they are doing all of the time. Sit and talk with your kids
often and start when they are little.

Give them goals to achieve.

Make them feel good about themselves.

The schools are asked to do so much these days outside of learning.

Budgets in North Andover have taken away classes at the high school,
teachers, classes, and the librarian at the middle school, redistricted
the elementary schools, which has resulted in larger classes, and is
closing Bradstreet kindergarten and moving those students around.

I think the $100,000 should be used for something else since there is
already a system in place to drug test and counsel these kids. We need to
stop expecting the schools to parent our children and do it ourselves.

Dina M. Beaton