THOUGHTS OF DRUG TESTING DANCE THROUGH OUR HEADS

As of this editorial, the school board had not yet voted on the drug
testing proposal for Mitchell High School.

New principal Jack Brooks has brought forward a policy modeled on one
used in other Western North Carolina schools. Our first thought when
someone says drug testing is "rights violation." It is a knee-jerk
reaction.

The more we think about it, drug testing can be a good thing for the
high school. Problems that can be caught early can be headed off
before they get completely out of hand.

The schools are in place to educate our children. To do this they must
provide a safe educational environment with minimal distractions.
Drugs can cause large distractions.

Looking at the policy again we noticed that the testing will be done
for athletes and coaches.

Suddenly, we wonder if the policy goes far enough. There may be some
drug usage by students involved in athletics, but there are probably
other students in the school that are more apt to be involved in drugs
and are not involved in athletics. Shouldn't they be tested too?

Is there a policy of random testing the student body that would pass
legal challenges?

It used to be something like a drug testing policy for high school
students would not be needed. It also used to be okay for students to
bring hunting rifles and pocket knives to school.

Today, drugs are here. They are available to students as easily as
alcohol. More so in some cases.

It is no longer things like marijuana that are the major problems.
These days there is methamphetamine being made in Mitchell County and
sold around the area. As addictive as crack and cheaper to make.

In addition to the traditional legal drugs, teens now know the names
and affects of prescription pain-killers which are being bought and
sold by people other than pharmacists.

It is a shame that we have to discuss the issue of drug testing our
students, our children. But if drug testing will keep our teens safer
and help promote a better learning environment then it is something we
need to look into.

Besides, the only people that it will really worry are those who have
something to hide.