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Last week's Question of the Week asked whether readers agreed with bringing
drug-detecting dogs into Helena schools.

Nearly four out of five readers did.

A drug-sniffing dog checked out high school lockers late last month in an
initial test of the process; it found nothing.

Among 333 responses to the question, 260 agreed with the idea and 73 were
opposed. Some comments:

- -- If you have nothing to hide, there should be no problem. However, years
ago while I attended Helena High I found drug paraphernalia in my locker
and it certainly didn't belong to me. So if drugs are found in unlocked
lockers, that doesn't necessarily mean that locker owner is guilty.

- -- This is a good way to keep students honest.

- -- I have only one concern with the dogs in school: What if they are
pinpointed with drug residue from their parents? What if Mom or Dad sat
their stash on a kid's books or backpack and left the scent? Other than
that, I think it is the safest and most accurate way to detect drugs. The
dogs are wonderful and gentle and make no judgments on the way someone is
dressed - therefore all students are the same to them.

- -- Where's the just cause? Why are the schools singled out? Are the
schoolkids considered guilty until proven innocent? The only way to justify
this is to take the dogs into every workplace and public place as well.
What's good for the schools must be good for the whole community.