RANDOM DRUG TESTING OF STUDENTS IS MISGUIDED

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the right of schools to extend
random drug testing to extracurricular activities such as band, choir,
sports and clubs is misguided. Students who participate have to maintain a
higher grade-point average for the privilege of doing so. This alone is a
deterrent to using drugs.

The thought of having to submit to a drug test in addition to maintaining
high grades is demeaning and assumes guilt before innocence. This is a bad
idea and will backfire, discouraging kids who desperately need these
extracurricular activities from participating.

I have two teenage children in public schools and have a vested interest in
this decision. As parents, it is our responsibility to keep our children
drug- and alcohol-free. The real issue is to involve and notify parents
when teachers suspect a drug or alcohol problem exists, not to take over
the role of parenting by randomly testing our kids.

ESTHER MILLER

Des Moines