DRUG TESTING OFFERS STUDENTS ONE MORE REASON TO JUST SAY 'NO'

In the Daily Herald on Wednesday, Sept. 3, Robert Sharp wrote a letter
to the editor that criticized the random drug testing policy at
Columbia Academy.

He said, "Drug testing may compel users of relatively harmless
marijuana to switch to harder drugs to avoid testing positive."

First, we do not believe that marijuana is relatively harmless.
Marijuana is illegal, potentially dangerous and readily available.
Second, the testing we use does not only test for marijuana; it also
tests for many other illegal substances and their derivatives.

Another comment made by Mr. Sharpe was, "Anyone capable of running a
search on the Internet can find out how to thwart a drug test."

When students are doing any kind of research for class, they are
taught that the Internet is not always a reliable source. Facts can be
found, but there is also bogus information on the Internet. Just
because something is in writing does not make it true. However, since
we know that this type of information is available on the Internet, we
also have the urine samples tested for adulterants - anything poured
or ingested in an attempt to skew the results.

The third comment from Mr. Sharpe indicates that the most commonly
abused drug is alcohol and that schools should invest in reality-based
drug education rather than drug testing.

Drug testing is only one part of our total drug education program. We
have always had and continue to have programs in place to educate our
students to make positive choices in their lives and to avoid drugs
and alcohol. Students are continually reminded of ways to respond to
peer pressure and other social and family pressures. We educate about
drugs and alcohol by using the classroom curriculum, the DARE program,
posters and wall decorations, chapel talks, outside speakers and
special assemblies.

At Columbia Academy we would like to think that none of our students
use drugs or alcohol, but that would be naive on our part. As long as
there is peer pressure, students will be tempted to make unwise
choices. By requiring random drug testing, our students when tempted
are given one more reason to say, "No."

Shirley Smith,

Upper School Headmaster,

Columbia Academy