Drug Testing

TEACHER COMMITMENT NOT BEING QUESTIONED

While I normally enjoy Lee Cataluna's writing and perspectives, I
really believe she missed the mark this time ("Why 5,000 teachers
didn't vote," May 6).

The commitment and dedication of teachers is not the impetus for
random drug testing. The issue is the safety of children entrusted to
our educational systems and the public's perception of that safety.

Random testing helps ensure that the persons into whose hands we
entrust our children are not under the influence of illegal
substances. To require that degree of accountability is reasonable.

We already randomly test members of the military and many others in
positions of government service or public safety. We should include
teachers (as well as elected officials--but that's another story).

I am certain that only a very small percentage of our educators use
substances illegally and therefore believe that the majority of them
should be willing to demonstrate that unequivocally to the public.

I also take exception to Ms. Cataluna citing the smoking practices of
teachers as a parallel issue. Possession and use of nicotine (with
appropriate age) is not illegal.

As a product of our public school system, I can state that I never
saw any teacher smoke in the classroom. While we knew teachers who
did smoke, they did it in the teacher's lounges--as students, we
never saw them.

Why did 5,000 teachers not vote? Almost 63 percent of them did, and
that exceeds the voting turnout for most of our public elections!

John Kim

Honolulu