STUDENT DRUG TESTING:

Editorial On Issue Was One-Sided

Your May 20 editorial, "Say no to suspicionless drug tests," maligning
Marshfield's proposal to implement drug testing unfortunately included one
side of a complicated issue.

In response to growing concerns about substance abuse, our administration
formed a task force consisting of staff, students and parents that has
examined effective legal efforts, and after thoughtful deliberation, the
committee is asking that a portion of our scarce resources be allocated to
confront this serious problem.

Rather than casting suspicion on those who engage in extracurricular
activities, as you suggest, we prefer to believe that our testing program
will give these students an excuse to "just say no" when they are subjected
to peer pressure. You say such tests are "fruitless," but this doesn't
agree with actual results where this program is in use. You also suggested
that we are considering adopting this program as an alternative to
confronting students whose behavior is suspicious. This is not true. Our
schools can and do deal with such students.

There doesn't seem to be any one here in Marshfield who was contacted by
your editorial staff before our community got blasted. If you are as
knowledgeable on this subject as you seem to believe, I am certain our
committee would appreciate your input.

I am reminded of a favorite quote from Teddy Roosevelt that begins, "It is
not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man
stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit
belongs to the man who is actually in the arena."

Bill Murrell, Marshfield