SCHOOL DISTRICT IS JUST HIDING FROM ITS PROBLEMS

Well, after reading the article about the Twin Falls School District not
drug testing its employees, I had the vision pop into my head of the
picture of the monkeys depicting "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."

Guess what? Just because we don't see evil or hear evil or speak out
against evil does not mean that it is not out there. I am troubled whenever
someone gets confused in thinking that the choices one person makes affect
only that person.

Mr. Donicht said, "There's no indication whatsoever that this goes beyond
her personal use." Come on, we have known for years now that drug use
affects the user and their ability to conform to standards that we set so
high in our society such as the obeying the law and being honest in your
dealings.

It has been said that drug testing is called an invasion of employees'
private lives. I say this statement in itself says it is OK to take drugs,
we just don't want to know about. However I believe that drug use invades
my rights. The right to trust, the right to feel safe, the right to receive
training and education and the right to others helping to shape our country
and our children's future.

Grow up -- drugs are illegal. Why are they illegal? They are illegal to
protect us from ourselves and to protect ourselves from those who would not
be able to control themselves. Yet has drug use stopped? No. Will drug use
stop? Only if we take an active role in stopping it and setting the right
example to our youth.

We can look at drug testing as an invasion of privacy or we can look at it
as this is the standard that we set for teaching our youth. If this
standard can't be met, then find a career that has lower standards (which
is not teaching our children).

I support drug testing. I am required to submit to drug testing for my
employment and it has not hurt me yet. Most of the people I know work for
companies that do drug testing. Not to hurt their employees but to help
them. The Twin Falls School District is not above the standards that I set
for my society, and as soon as we can end the demand for drugs, then we can
put drug testing behind us.

BRAD LING

Twin Falls