NO DRUG TESTS

Today the Madison City Board of Education plans to vote on random
drug testing for all students who drive to school or participate in
any extracurricular activities.

Initially, this seems good.

Everyone wants to reduce youth drug problems.

Upon closer inspection, these policies go against the U.S.
Constitution and are rife with unintended consequences.

Students should not be required to prove their innocence to
participate in public school activities. The research doesn't
indicate that these policies deter drug abuse.

Instead, they often drive away students most in need of intervention
while testing students that don't use drugs.

Also, the testing program will not test for steroids, which are some
of the most dangerous drugs.

Many organizations and institutions have thoroughly researched and
clearly stated their conclusions and policies against random,
suspicionless drug testing in schools, including: the University of
Michigan, the Institute for Social Research, the American Academy of
Pediatrics, the Indiana University Prevention Resource Center,
NAADAC the Association for Addiction Professionals, the National
Association of Social Workers and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The Madison school board must make decisions which will affect
thousands of our young citizens based on science, facts and
principles, not upon feelings and fears.

The school board has not notified the public of this pending
decision or requested public input.

The board listed only revisions to policies for "Parking Privileges
and Vehicle Use" and "Academic First" in the agenda. An issue as
important and controversial as this needs a public forum.

Robert C. Lemley,

Madison, 35758