DRUG TESTS

SOME U.S. SUPREME COURT justices appeared - during questioning about a case
involving drug-testing by an Oklahoma school district - to be open to the
idea of random drug-testing for students who are involved in
extracurricular activities.

It would be fine with us if the high court, which will probably rule on the
issue this summer, will allow random tests for students who choose to
become involved with extracurricular activities. That has been our position
for years.

Locally, we have seen the challenge to a drug-testing policy by the Lockney
Independent School District, which ended with a ruling by U.S. District
Judge Sam Cummings that the policy was unconstitutional. The Lockney school
district decided not to appeal the ruling and went back to its old policy
of testing where reason for suspicion, such as erratic behavior consistent
with drug or alcohol impairment, exists.

The Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that schools may randomly test athletes for
drugs, using the reasoning that students who routinely strip naked in front
of others in a locker room have a lower expectation of privacy.

It is hard to argue with that, and student athletes are also going to be
more likely to be using drugs than are, say, students who are in the Chess
Club.

However, it does not answer the next obvious question - whether random
drug-testing is warranted for students in the band, choir, debate club and
other school activities, where students keep their clothes on throughout
the school day.

Tests would be a deterrent

We are pleased that the Supreme Court is hearing the case. We believe it is
one that needs to be decided as soon as possible.

The problem of drug use by students is very serious one that does not
appear to be improving in our nation. Random drug tests would obviously be
a deterrent to drug use by students. They also would provide a good excuse
to students who do not want to experiment with drugs but have a hard time
resisting peer pressure.

Parents also stand to benefit from student drug-testing. If their children
develop substance-abuse problems, it is something that parents very much
need to know. For that reason, we support parent- requested drug testing,
which the Lubbock Independent School District conducts. If parents have
reason to believe their children have a problem, they are wise to have them
tested.

A majority of high school students participate in extra-curricular
activities, but the decision to do so is a voluntary one. But if they so
choose, should they have to give up privacy to do it? It is a key question.

We are a nation that is very serious about our freedoms. They are precious,
and anything that can be considered a challenge to them must be carefully
examined. It is good that the high court soon will be giving us an answer.