DRUG TESTS FOR BEST STUDENTS MISGUIDED

The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling permitting random drug testing of students
who participate in extracurricular activities other than athletics is
counterproductive and misguided.

Teachers and counselors instinctively know that a student who participates
in an after-school activity such as drama, band, forensics, art or music is
much less likely to use cocaine, marijuana or alcohol than a student who
does not participate in any extracurricular programs.

We should be encouraging high school students to apply their time
productively by engaging them in enriching activities. Students who refrain
from ingesting drugs or alcohol might decide not to partake in
extracurricular activities as a result of the invasion of privacy,
humiliation and embarrassment associated with having to provide random
urine samples.

Seven years ago, our highest court prudently approved the practice of
allowing random drug testing of student athletes. The new decision
permitting random drug testing of the students least likely to ingest
alcohol and illegal drugs is illogical.

Public school leaders probably will recognize that drug tests should be
administered to these active, stable students only when evidence exists
that they indeed are using alcohol or illegal drugs.

Steven Kaplan

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Macomb County

Mt. Clemens