RANDOM DRUG TESTS NO WAY TO SHOW STUDENTS WE CARE

We're with the majority of parents who turned out at a community forum held
recently by the Petoskey School board to discuss how random drug testing
might help combat student drug and alcohol abuse.

The school board is looking at its substance abuse policy because of a
recent survey in which nearly 50 percent of seniors and nearly 30 percent of
freshmen said they had smoked marijuana at least once.

With the exception of a few parents who said they wouldn't object to random
drug screening, most indicated they would be against such a system.

One mother said that subjecting her children to random drug testing is an
invasion of privacy.

"You may not touch my children or collect physical specimens from them
without my consent," she added.

Several parents also took issue with the school's current practice of random
drug dog sweeps.

Amen.

It's one thing to have cause to believe a student is using illegal
substances and bring in the dog, or require a drug test. But imagine trying
to function in an atmosphere in which, from day to day, students never know
when or if it will be their turn to be singled out for the very personal
process of having to go into a bathroom stall and urinate in a cup while an
adult listens.

And all they did was show up for school like they are supposed to.

Imagine being in class with the dog out in the hall, knowing you've done
nothing wrong and have nothing to hide, yet feeling guilty anyway.

Not exactly the kind of nurturing, productive atmosphere most parents
envision for their children.

Most of the parents who attended the meeting said they advocate alternatives
to random drug testing. They would rather see school officials focus more on
building self-esteem and identifying the reasons that students might decide
to experiment with alcohol or drugs in the first place.

Some also believe that home is where the problems start, and we would agree
that unless there is reason to believe a student is on or using drugs in
school, it's not the school's place to weed out potential offenders.

No, it's the parents' place. They're the ones who know these kids the best,
who see them morning and night; who can detect changes in behavior or smell
marijuana on their clothing; who wait for them to get home at night and can
see how they look, know if they have alcohol on their breath; and then act
accordingly if they have reason to believe there is a problem.

The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of random drug testing
for students who participate in any extracurricular activity. The
constitutionality of random drug testing for any student has yet to be
tested in the nation's highest court.

Let's not see it tested in Petoskey.