DURHAM ON THE RIGHT TRACK

Durham Unified School District is on the right track in considering
mandatory drug testing for athletes. Such a plan can be even more effective
by including all other students who are involved in school-sponsored
activities.

In recent years drug use appears to have moved from fringe groups on our
local high school campuses in to use by athletes, cheerleaders, and student
leaders; those very students who are most visible and who are put forth as
role models for other kids to emulate. Regular drug testing might have some
chance of restoring this important group to drug-free status.

Beyond testing, high schools must take stronger action if their goal is
truly "zero tolerance" of drug use. No such efforts can be successful, in
my view, without including closed campuses at lunchtime, restrictions on
student use of automobiles during the school day, and monitoring or
eliminating the use of backpacks once students are on campus for the day.

These measures might seem to be excessively restrictive at first glance;
and, of course, there will be many who will assert that students' rights
are being violated. However, what these critics often overlook is the
important right of every student to be educated in an environment that is
free of dangerous and unhealthy substances. The current widespread
availability of cheap methamphetamine, in particular, makes it necessary
now to take a fresh look at what we can do to guarantee drug-free campuses
for our children.

- -- Carl Ochsner

Chico