EDUCATION, NOT TESTING, IS TOP JOB

Editor,

I have been watching, listening and reading about the story of the boys who
collapsed at school, were tested for drugs and had their bags and lockers
searched while they were at the hospital. Apparently, the search for drugs
at school or evidence of such was non-existent. The drug tests showed that
one student had smoked marijuana at some point prior to the test. The other
student's drug test was clear. It seems easy to draw the conclusion that
marijuana was not the cause of their collapse.

Some complain that we didn't already have a drug testing policy in place. I
believe it has been reported that Hartselle's school board looked into
developing a drug policy last year, but that due to state proration and the
additional cut of school funds from the City of Hartselle, it was thought
that a policy could wait until more funds were available. Education, not
drug testing, is the main job of the school system.

With no evidence of drug use or abuse at school, what could the school
system have legally done? Someone please explain how the school board or
any other school official could have handled the situation any differently
or any better.

When faced with the March 4 situation, the board's response was to begin
the process of developing a random-drug testing policy for students
involved in extracurricular activities so that there would be a mechanism
for disciplining a student in a similar situation in the future. This
response, I understand, was made before there was any public questioning of
the incident by the council.

As for Dr. Hartsell's statements to the press, it seems that he answered
that question when he was asked in April. He said that his statement about
the result of the drug test was qualified. He said that when he spoke with
members of the press, he told them that relative to the collapse of the
students at the high school, the drug tests were negative. Since the
information about marijuana use was not relevant to the situation at
school, I don't think that he was intending to suppress the truth or
mislead the public as members of the council have alleged.

I have two children in the Hartselle school system. If either child
collapsed at school under similar circumstances, I would appreciate it if
someone would either call an ambulance or transport him for medical
treatment. If there were a possibility that drugs were the cause of the
collapse, I would appreciate knowing that as a parent. But if the drug test
was clear, you'd better believe that I would have something to say if the
school attempted to punish my child for passing out at school for unknown
reasons. How could school officials have done anything more than what was
done? Further investigation of the incident and any punishment should come
from the parents of the children involved.

I think the issue of a drug policy for Hartselle's school system is
important and is currently being addressed. Time to put this incident
behind us and move forward. We have learned a lot over the last several
weeks. Let's use what we have learned to improve our city and our school
system and make our schools better and safer for our children.

Anne Burleson

Decatur