RANDOM DRUG TESTS FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS

To the Editor:

Random drug testing for students is offensive. The "safety for the
children" argument is just not compelling; it has always been a
fundamental truism that the important thing is almost never "what is
done" but is always "who gets to decide what is done." Whether testing
is good or bad is a matter of personal opinion, but the parents should
be the ones who decide.

Liberals want to allow my daughter to have abortion on demand without
parental approval, and conservatives want to mandate drug testing
without parental approval. Yet, if my under-18 child harms another
person or destroys property, it is my wife and I who are responsible.
Does this make sense?

When even wealthy school districts in wealthy counties struggle to get
school budgets passed, and are considering eliminating basic programs
and services and are charging extra for bus transportation despite
high school taxes, don't these districts have better things to do than
to play nanny?

Edward Zohn

Watchung