WHEN TWO WRONGS COLLIDE: DRUGS AND RANDOM TESTS

In a Nov. 3 letter about drug testing in public high schools ("Random
drug testing promotes better learning") Jenna Shaw writes, "drug use
would cause violent behavior on campus" and "student attendance and
comprehension would be negatively affected by illegal drug activity."

These two points would make a stronger argument if the issue were
about students with Attention Deficit Disorder, students who are
bipolar or even students who are caught up in idle gossip.

Let me say that I do not, by any means, support youth drug use. I can
even support the necessity of drug testing for extracurricular
activities; at least the student is given a choice and the only
sacrifice for refusal would be not participating (Todd vs. Rush
County, 1998).

However, I am a stronger believer in privacy. Our society is heading
closer and closer to the "Big Brother" system of George Orwell's novel
"1984."

Why is it OK to allow school administrators to randomly invade the
privacy of students for drug testing at school, but not OK for
students to have prayer? Why not have random tests for pregnancy or
STDs? They stem from another issue that is adding to the decay of our
youth, premarital sex.

I have done my research and for every study that has shown random
testing to be effective, there are two that counteract it. One in
particular was a 2003 study done by the University of Michigan, titled
"Student drug testing not effective in reducing drug use."

I hope that random drug testing is only an effort in the process of
elimination to find a solution and not a permanent fix.

I can say this: The answer begins at home, on our knees, with heads
bowed and hands clenched.

Netalia Bradley

Lafayette, La.