DRUG-TESTING STUDENTS IS A LAME IDEA

Editor,

This is in response to Kenneth Mundt's letter on July 13, "Officials should
drug-test every student." To begin with, there isn't a huge illegal drug
problem in most public schools. I attend Coloma High School, one of the
first schools to adopt the practice of drug testing athletes. To me, and
most everyone involved, this is a gross invasion of privacy. The only
reason that it is legal for them to drug-test athletes is on shaky ground
that drugs mixed with grueling exercise could cause a student to pass out
or die.

If a parent wants his or her kid drug-tested, that parent can go down to
the hospital and have the kid tested legally. Mr. Mundt calls for all
schools to test all students. In my class alone, there are approximately
190 students. Where would the money to drug-test every kid come from? At
$40 each, this will cost $7,600 per grade. Since there are 12 grades, you
are talking about $91,200. If just the high school, the total amounts to
$30,400, which could go toward a rubberized track, which is needed for
track meets. Coloma has not hosted a track meet in more than 20 years.

To go beyond the obvious monetary issue, there is the issue of legality as
well. In our society a person is innocent until proven guilty. Making every
child urinate in a cup so you can analyze it is showing complete disregard
for the students' rights as American citizens. It is not the schools'
responsibility to make sure every child is drug-free. The responsibility of
K-12 schools is to teach basic knowledge and skills to the population.

The Constitution carries with it Amendment 4 in the Bill of Rights. It
states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers and effects, against unreasonable search and seizures, shall not be
violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported
by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be
searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

I believe this covers a person's internal body from being searched
randomly. I see no probable cause here at all. If we allow this type of
testing to continue, then one day maybe all adults may be tested randomly.
Does anybody really want such a thing?

John Crabtree

Coloma