EXTEND DRUG TREATEMENT PROGRAMS TO ALL STUDENTS

To the Twin Falls School Board:

Sadly, our educators have had to deal with the problem of drugs in our
schools for many years. Until recently, the solution has been the same
- -- arrest of the student, quickly followed by suspension from school
and prompt prosecution.

Now, due to drug testing, we have learned that even the "upper
echelon" of the student body, the athletes, have succumbed to the
temptations of illegal drugs. Well, we certainly can't boot our
promising quarterbacks and most-valued players out of school and
prosecute them, so a different solution has been suggested for them --
drug treatment programs. Could it be that the athletes, generally,
come from the more affluent families than the average student and,
therefore, are more worthy of salvation as opposed to prosecution? Are
they more important than the other kids in school? Or is it "money
talks"?

While I agree 100 percent with treatment and education instead of
arrest and school suspension for these students, I believe it should
be for 100 percent of them, not just a chosen few.

Can you somehow unarrest and unsuspend these previous offenders, get
them into these drug treatment programs so they can further their
education -- even if they can't punt, pass or kick?

DALE NASH

Jerome