MAHALO TO TERESE BARICH

Kudos to Terese Barich for her insightful comments regarding our
state's new policy on random teacher drug testing. Throughout my 15
years teaching and 15 years working other jobs, I have found teachers
to be the least drug using/abusing group of individuals in our
society. To randomly test is not only insulting to teachers but takes
money away from actually improving public education for our children.
Existing language in our previous contract (reasonable suspicion) was
adequate to protect our students.

Ms. Barich hit the mark when she refuted the argument that teachers
should be tested because they take care of our children. Based on that
argument, if it is reasonable to randomly drug test teachers, it is
also reasonable to randomly drug test all parents, coaches, pre-school
teachers, Boy Scout leaders, and anyone else who provides services to
children. To randomly drug test teachers is a slippery slope. Why stop
with the teachers? What's good for one faction of our community is
good for all.

GARY CRAFT

Lihu'e