HSTA CONTRACT

No Epidemic Of School Teachers Using Drugs

In her current contract offer to the public school teachers of
Hawai'i, Gov. Linda Lingle is requiring that all public school
teachers submit to random drug testing in exchange for a pay increase.

First of all, there is no epidemic of public school teachers using or
selling illegal drugs.

The thought of any state worker interacting with children while under
the influence of drugs or alcohol is abhorrent to any sane person.
The vast majority of public school teachers in Hawai'i do not use, or
promote the sale of, illegal drugs.

If the public school teachers of Hawai'i ratify the contract as it
stands, they will gain a temporary monetary reward and in return will
give up a priceless commodity, their Fourth Amendment right as
guaranteed in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.

Gov. Lingle's contract offer to the public school teachers of Hawai'i
is typical of the Bush/Rove style of conservative Republican politics
that she endorses. She forces teachers to give up a constitutional
right in exchange for a pay increase, and then paints them as
un-American protectors of drug addicts if they cry foul.

If she really cared about weeding out drug users from state jobs, she
could easily do so with the processes currently in place. But since
the media loves scandal, Gov. Lingle is using this teacher contract
to force teachers to wear the scarlet "D."

Teachers, wake up. Don't ratify.

Bob Underwood

Moloka'i