MARIAN CATHOLIC SET TO TEST STUDENTS FOR DRUGS

Marian Catholic would join 2 other Catholic high schools in
region

Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights will likely become the
third Catholic high school in the region to require drug testing of
its students.

Parents and school officials met last week to discuss the proposal,
expected to take effect next fall. Following the example of St.
Patrick High School in Chicago and St. Viator High School in Arlington
Heights, school officials hope the new policy will give Marian's 1,500
students another reason to turn down drugs, said Principal Kathleen
Tait.

"The reality is that often students consider experimenting with drugs,
but this gives them the support to be able to say no," she said.

Each student would be tested once each school year, and some students
would be randomly selected for a second test. All students would have
to submit a hair sample to be screened for marijuana, cocaine,
methamphetamines, PCP and Ecstasy. The test would cost about $55 per
student annually.

The school does not have major drug problems, but "even if it helps a
few students, it's worth it," Tait said.

As other Catholic schools across the country have considered drug
testing in recent years, they have consulted with officials at St.
Patrick and St. Viator about their experiences. More private schools
are testing students at random, but public schools usually only test
students participating in competitive athletics and extracurricular
activities.

Drug testing at St. Patrick over the last four years has been a "huge
success," said Principal Joe Schmidt. Less than 1 percent of the
school's 1,000 male students test positive for drugs each year, he
said.

"The kids here feel good about being a drug-free school," he said.
"The drug dealers aren't trying to sell here."

When a student tests positive for drugs, he must meet confidentially
with his dean and parents to discuss the results. If drugs still
appear in test results after 100 days, the student would likely be
asked to leave the school, Schmidt said. Marian plans to implement
similar disciplinary procedures.

"It's not worth it for the students," Schmidt said. "It's a good
school, and they want to be here."

Experts in teen drug use cite troubling statistics, as highlighted in
a recent study by the University of Michigan that found that 36
percent of high school seniors report using illicit drugs.

But some question the effectiveness of drug testing in schools and
favor a more comprehensive approach to drug abuse through education
and counseling. Besides raising questions about privacy, drug testing
alienates those students who are struggling with drug abuse, said Tom
Angell, a spokesman for Students for Sensible Drug Policy, a group
representing college and high school students that opposes testing.

"Young people need to know if they're having problems with drugs, they
can go to parents or educators to ask for help," he said.