DRUG TESTING A BAD IDEA IN SPARTA, PARENT SAYS

To the Editor:

Regarding the Sparta School Board considering random drug testing in
the schools (article Thursday, May 3 page 1), while the school board
may believe that they're acting in the best interests of families,
what they're really doing is eroding trust between parents, kids and
teachers.

As parents, we believe the issue of drugs is a family matter to be
discussed with children on our own terms. Random drug testing in the
schools usurps this role in our children's lives. This "guilty until
proven innocent" approach is un-American. To call it "voluntary" while
creating a system of punishment for those who do not comply, (i.e, not
being allowed to participate in sports), is arbitrary and not truly
voluntary.

A recent New York Times article dealing with the issue of random drug
testing in schools, ("Is This the Answer to Drug Use?", March 25,
2007), cites a 2003 federally financed study by the University of
Michigan that found "no evidence that testing lowered the abuse rate."

In order to help kids make the right decision about drugs, educators
should focus their efforts on building trust between students and
parents by emphasizing education and open dialogue - not by making
them pee into a cup.

Sincerely,

CLAUDIA AND RAYMOND ECKE

Sparta