DRUG TESTING IN SCHOOLS? LOCAL VIEWS ON OKLA. CASE VARY

Jocks have been scrutinized for drug use.

But clarinet players? Latin club members?

Some local teachers and parents think it's a great idea. They support the
Tecumseh, Okla., school authorities who have gone to the U.S. Supreme Court
with their fight to administer mandatory random drug tests to students
involved in certain extracurricular activities.

The court heard arguments Tuesday. Observers said the justices were divided
but appeared to lean toward approval of the testing.

Drug testing is fine with Allen Hall, director of bands at Tucker High
School in Henrico County. He enforces a zero-tolerance policy among his
musicians.

"If I think it's going on, I'll be the first one to turn a student in," he
said yesterday. "I'm not going to support drug use in my bands."

The Supreme Court case aims to widen a 1995 court ruling that allows
schools to randomly test student-athletes. No school division in the
Richmond area tests its athletes, but all 14,700 public school systems
nationwide are permitted to do so.

Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union have opposed drug testing
in schools, arguing that it violates students' civil rights.

But Jack Wilson, a parent of four Chesterfield County students and
president of the Chesterfield Parent-Teacher Association, said he would
welcome a court ruling that approved tests for all students involved in
extracurriculars.

"Drug use is in schools, and obviously it varies from school to school and
district to district, but I don't think any school in the country is
drug-free," he said. "Anything that can be done to help eliminate or reduce
drug use is worth whatever small invasion of privacy there might be."

Wilson's four children are involved in activities, from sports to band to
the German club. He said he doesn't think randomly testing students would
put a damper on participation in extra-curriculars.

"Hopefully, what it would do is cause kids to make decisions, like 'What's
more important - the opportunity to participate in sports or
extracurriculars or taking a chance and using some type of illegal
substance and getting caught?'" he said. "They'll realize it's not worth
giving up football for something they would do on the weekend and would
regret for the rest of their lives."

Chris Noack, a junior at James River High School in Chesterfield, said he
doesn't agree with drug testing for students. But if it's going to happen,
he'd rather see all students treated the same.

"With sport," said Noack, "I can understand a little bit the concern as far
as steroid use. But I definitely think that if they're going to test people
who do sports, they should test students in all activities. It's only fair."

Noack plays varsity soccer and is involved in the Beta Club and student
government.

Stanley Williams, adviser for the Technology Student Association at
Huguenot High School in Richmond, said he also supports random drug tests
and expects that all the students he advises would pass.

"It would certainly be a deterrent to drug use," he said. "But the type of
kids we have involved in activities aren't the type of kids who normally
get involved with drugs, too. My kids aren't those type of kids."

Jim Belcher, who teaches English and journalism at Thomas Dale High School
in Chesterfield, also coaches the tennis team and advises the yearbook
committee. Typically, students involved in activities are more responsible
and don't have room in their busy schedules for drug use, he said.

"Usually, if they're involved with an activity, it's very time-consuming
and you'd notice right away the effects on their quality of work," he said.
"I don't think kids who would be using drugs would choose to stay around
after school until six or seven at night to do extra work."