FORCED DRUG TESTS ARE UNREASONABLE SEARCHES

In 1995, the Supreme Court ruled that schools are allowed to test student
athletes for drugs. Now, the Supreme Court is deciding on whether they
should expand that law to make it acceptable to drug test students involved
in other extracurricular activities, ranging from band and choir to chess
club. This would be a major step toward allowing drug testing of all
students. Drug tests invade students' privacy and violate the
Constitution's Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable
searches. It doesn't make sense to single out and drug test students who
participate in extracurricular programs because these activities help keep
students away from drugs. Drug tests may even discourage some students from
participating in extracurricular activities. Instead of spending money on
drug tests, schools should put that money toward drug prevention programs
to help educate students about the dangers of drugs. If a school is
suspicious of drugs being abused by students, they should talk to the
student's parents. They will know if there is another explanation or they
can decide to have their child tested and deal with the results at home.
Drug abuse and drug testing is an issue for families, not schools.

Erin Evans,

Cullowhee