I don’t care. For after school activities like sports or whatever, sure. If they want to participate, they should be clean and law abiding. Not too different from regular rules like how they shouldn’t ditch class or otherwise get in trouble.

However, I think it’s a waste of limited resources to drug test the entire student body if not all of them do after school stuff or have otherwise had problems.

First and foremost, taking drugs is an unhealthy and dangerous situation for the person who is involved. We have health education where we are supposed to teach our students good health habits of which drugs are not part.

Secondly, if the school and society accepts illegal drug use it is taken by many as open permission to engage in this activity and may influence others to try the so called recreational drugs.

Thirdly, the students involved in drug use frequently do not have a clear head and their education suffers along with their health. I believe that so called minor drug use for many leads to major drug use in many cases.

Fourthly, drug use for at least some presents a need for money. Theft and other illegal actives may occur.

Fifthly, the passage of money between student and student can lead to arguments and fights.

Sixthly, the school has an obligation to parents to see that their children are not exposed to drugs.

As far as the legality of drug testing is concerned I believe that they are legal. Students have rights, but they have no right to take or sell drugs on public property nor are their lockers private property. Lockers are subject to the rules of the school.

I know that many will be opposed to the views presented above but I offer them at least partially in response to your statement: “please express your true feelings”.

On the other hand, as a helper and a bit of an educator myself, I say that drug tests are a violation of privacy and the first amendment of the United States: we all have an entitlement to privacy with weapons, drugs or secret plans to blow up the Death Star.

Then again, drugs sometimes encourage cheating. Look at high school/college sports. They both are known for their accusations of steroid use. But some drugs in school encourage kids to be emotionless, unthinking and utterly unopinionated zombies who believe the typo in the history book. Ritalin, for example, if you act up, it’s the whole 10 yards with the lobotomy and the Ritalin addiction. So it depends on your feelings on drug tests or what they’re used for…

Drugs are such a big problem, action is needed.

Blanket testing of students and faculty, and any school visitor.

Make it often and unwarned.

Introduce severe consequences, and stick with them.

If you are worried about your civil liberties, you have the right to stay home. Also youll probably want testing after your child steps on a dirty discarded needle 🙂

Test now, improve the problem, review the policy for improvement.

As a business owner my employees are subject to random drug testing. And there are LOTS of jobs now that incorporate drug testing as part of employment. We know that pro-athletes and Olympians are also subject to drug testing. Many insurance companies require blood and/or saliva tests that can be used to detect illegal drug use. So, if drug testing is a part of adult life, and we are trying to train up our teenagers to be outstanding adults one day, then yes, drug testing should be introduced to them in high school. Especially if it is used to determine if a student can participate in extra-curricular activities, be on the honor roll, lead in student government, and such.