RANDOM DRUG TESTS NOT SOLUTION

Pearl School Board committee member Estelle Watts seems to think that random
drug testing will give students an excuse to say "no" to using drugs ("Drug
tests eyed for athletes," Jan. 14).

But drug testing students who want to participate in after-school activities
only gives at-risk students an excuse to say "no" to joining the activities
in the first place.

School officials should welcome these students into the positive learning
environments offered by extracurriculars, especially during the critical
hours between the end of the school day and the time their parents come home
from work. But this plan simply pushes students toward the streets.

Ms. Watts and the rest of the school board should rethink their plan, which
surely won't be the quick fix for drug problems they think it'll be.

Tom Angell

Communications director

Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Washington