THE WRONG APPROACH

In "Yukon students divided on drug testing" (news story, Oct. 6),
cross-country coach Matt Parent claims random drug testing gives students
"an excuse to not do drugs." But randomly testing students who want to
participate in after-school activities only gives young people who've used
drugs an excuse to avoid trying out for sports teams or joining other
activities.

School officials should welcome these at-risk students into
after-school learning environments during the crucial hours between the end
of the school day and the time their parents come home from work.

Instead, the proposed drug-testing policy simply turns these students toward the
streets, where they'll be more likely to further experiment with drugs. The
school board should reconsider its drug-testing plan, which surely won't be
a quick fix for drug problems.

Tom Angell, Washington, D.C.

Angell is communications director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.