BENEDICTINE APPLAUDED FOR DRUG PREVENTION STEPS

I am writing in response to Benedictine Military School's latest actions
toward drug prevention ("A new kind of school test," Home section, Sept. 14).

As a former student of Benedictine Military School, I have seen firsthand
how drugs affected my fellow classmates. It's a shame to see so many
soon-to-be adults use substances that will eventually hurt them in the long
run.

BC, along with every other school in the area, has a serious drug problem
on its hands.

If you haven't noticed, the Chatham County drug dogs just don't cut it
anymore. These days, students are learning ways to get around all the
administrations' efforts to diminish drug use.

BC has made a huge step in its effort to sideline drug use. Whether these
tests will weed out the drug users in school is still to be determined.
What current students need to realize, though, is that the administration
is there to help, not to promote expulsion.

I commend BC Principal Kelly Burke and her administration on taking a bold
step to end drug use and hope other area schools take note and apply the
same standards.

I think I speak for most of my classmates when I say we would like to see
nothing more than for each of us succeed in life, rather than be left
behind because of the perils of drugs.

PATRICK McCARTHY

Athens