DRUG TESTING ISN'T THE ANSWER

Re: Support for drug testing of students.

The letter writers who support drug testing in schools do so with empty
arguments. To justify such support by stating the obvious -- no one wants
adolescents using drugs -- is an emotional twist to the logic that the ends
justifies the means.

To assume that random drug sampling will prevent an individual from using
drugs is just plain inaccurate. Ask any probation officer whose client
routinely fails these screens despite the threat of imprisonment. Ask any
nurse who delivers baby after baby to drug positive mothers who know they
will be tested at that child's birth.

Stating that children don't have rights is the most ludicrous of all. If
that's the case, let's disband Family Continuity and Child Protective
Services immediately and allow child abuse to go on. After all, what right
does a child have to protection?

Finally, the most annoying and dangerous argument of all: Parents would
want to know if their children are using drugs. Really? I have some good
advice for the parents -- drug test them yourself. Start being parents and
stop expecting schools, social service agencies and other outside entities
to do your job. Services are available to accomplish this, and would
protect the rights of students caught up in the "reefer madness" of this
century.

Eliska Adema, Largo

ASKING FOR MORE RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Re: Student testing helps parents to fight drugs, letter, July 5.

The letter writer says that by removing the constitutional rights of our
children, we are helping parents to deal with their children's drug
problems. It was most disturbing to find out that the letter writer,
Calvina Fay, happens to be the executive director of Drug Free America
Foundation in St. Petersburg.

As far as believing that this blatant violation of privacy would help
children save face in front of their peers by using this travesty of
justice as an excuse, what about the excuse that "I play sports, and I need
to stay in good health?" I guess that's not "cool" enough. I agree with Ms.
Fay, when she says that early detection can deter and prevent drug
addiction. But perhaps the problem is not in the school's sports programs.
Perhaps the problem is in the communication between parents and their children.

Perhaps Ms. Fay should be educating the parents. Be sure to tell them that
if they pay attention to and talk with their children, they'll probably
become aware of what is going on in their children's lives. You might also
look at the drug addiction of the parents. Shall we drug test the parents
of the children who play sports in school as well? Maybe we should have CNN
do a new vote to see how many parents would agree to that? To take away the
student's rights is simply opening a flood gate to future violations of
everyone's rights.

Brenda Wallis, Dunedin