COURT'S RANDOM STUDENT DRUG TEST DECISION SHOULD BE CAUSE FOR PUBLIC OUTCRY

The fever over the 9th Circuit Court's decision regarding the Pledge of
Allegiance has allowed a critical decision by the Supreme Court to pass all
too quietly with hardly a comment or note of outrage.

In a split decision the Court has ruled to allow random drug testing for
all children who participate in any school activities, including chess
clubs, chorus, band and honors clubs. The decision tramples the Fourth
Amendment's guarantee of a person's right to be secure in their "persons
... against unreasonable searches and seizures," as well as a parent's
right to be consulted in relation to medical procedures.

Any child can be forced to submit to a urine sample to test for illegal
drugs, without consent of the child or parent. The court finds that the
need for drug-free campus supersedes the right to privacy - essentially
negating the Fourth Amendment.

I fail to understand how this ruling has brought no criticism from the
general population. Several weeks ago there had been a tremendous uproar
surrounding the principal in a California school who went on thong
(underwear) patrol during a school dance. In my opinion, this ruling should
bring the same amount of public outcry. Urine testing holds the same
humiliation, disrespect and loss of privacy, as did the random thong test.

Our children are required to consult a parent on medical decisions; in
accordance with this, it should be required of a school to have permission
to perform a medical test on our children.

Kelly Rembish

Wilkes-Barre