'JUST SAY NO' TO SCHOOL DRUG-TESTING

Dear Editor:

Katherine Lee is right on target. Here are a couple of thoughts for
those parents who might endorse schools drug testing their children.

First, if you are concerned that your teen may be using drugs, why be
so cowardly as to not administer the test yourself? Why demand the
school do your dirty work? While you're at it, take the test yourself,
since the obvious lesson here is that personal testimony is
insufficient evidence of honesty. One must instead prove their
integrity by offering up a urine sample.

While giving your own sample, make sure to prop a mirror in front of
you so that you can watch how ridiculous, stupid and degrading it is
to prove your purity in such a manner. Either you or your spouse must
be present in the bathroom when the teen's specimen is proffered.
Better yet, have a neighbor they don't know very well watch instead.
This accurately simulates what the school is doing on your behalf,
since you are too frightened to take the much-needed action that is
urgently needed.

That would be to honestly and non-judgmentally discuss the use of
drugs with your teens. The only logical reason a teen will not be
honest with adults is if they do not trust the person that they are
talking to. Parents who disagree with coerced drug testing of their
teens need to speak up and tell the schools to "Just Say No."

STEPHEN HEATH

Drug Policy Forum of Florida

Clearwater, FL