WEED THEM OUT

In the funniest thing I've read in the newspaper in a while, Jim
Parker said, "Some folks need to learn when to butt out." He obviously
has lots of pent-up rage. Who really cares that he hasn't failed a
drug test? But he is pretty much right. People need to learn how to
deal with their own problems.

Drug testing was put into effect because of drug use by students at
Hawley. Even if only one kid was doing drugs, it was still a problem.
Some parent wasn't doing his/her job -- probably preoccupied with a
job, their spousal relationship, etc. Now the same parents want to
stick their nose where it doesn't belong and neglect to stick it where
it is needed most, at home nosing around their children.

A concern I have is the teachers. Teachers take drug tests when they
sign their contracts. Coaches have random drug tests throughout their
career. What about other teachers, the ones who only have passed one
at the beginning of their teaching lives? Hawley should enforce
schoolwide testing that not only focuses on the students but on
administrators as well. It would help weed out, no pun intended, those
bad seed teachers.

I wish luck to those kids who need to get clean before the first
test.

TANDY VERSYP

Editor's Note: These letters were submitted by
students in Melanie Ragland's journalism class at
Hawley High School in response to Jim Parker's Jan. 24
letter to the editor, "Hawley drug testing invasion of privacy."