Random testing is usually a urinalysis.

I’ve been teaching 10 yrs in NY – never heard of any districts testing. If they do – most likely unrinalysis because hair strand is too expensive.

Forget those like Stuart – if everyone was judged by their entire lives – NOBODY would be fit to teach – and look at the leaders of our country! Learn from your experiences and help guide youth – but be careful how truthful you are with students – admitting drug use can hurt you – no matter how far in the past. Many, many conservatives in the field. I’m not one of them – but still don’t believe students need to know everything we’ve done – they tend to miss the lesson as they are too fascinated with the excitement of finding out what you’ve done and how cool it is. Find a way to teach the lesson without getting yourself in trouble.

I have taught at schools from Arkansas to Illinois. I have taught at maybe 10 different schools and have yet to work at one that requires a drug test. I think that those that do are probably only urine tests. However, I would think that if schools drug test teachers using hair and go back their entire lives, they would likely have few candidates who could pass that test. If they do hair testing, I would think it probable that it only goes back within a recent time frame of the intended employment. Additionally, I have heard that whether your hair is cut short or not doesn’t really help, as long as there is enough to test. It keeps a “timeline” of all activities.

Welp, sounds like your mom has a bad case of Bi-polar. I had the same problem for the longest time with my mom. No matter what I did it was never good enough or the smallest things pissed her off. To be honest theres really nothing you can do about it. Because the moment you ask her to look at herself as the one who is wrong, your going to get yelled at, I promise. So the best thing you can do, is just steer clear of her for awhile. As awful as that sounds, try it. Dont ask her for anythng. If you can find your own ride to school. And if she asks why, just tell her your trying to save her some time so she dont have to rush. A break from your parents is always awesome. m not telling you to run away or anything. Just bstick to your self. If that dont work. Confront her=] Good Luck Jesse

At this point in Texas, there are no drug tests for teachers. My feelings are that many teachers in our schools have tried drugs as they are just like other members of society. However, I fervently hope that they don’t go around promoting drug use as a positive thing to our youth.

I think you’re probably OK. Best of luck to you in your career.

Relax. School districts do not have drug testing because it is too expensive to administer to that many teachers, although bus drivers do have drug tests. I smoked my share of maijuana in the past, but never before I was going to walk into a classroom… and I’m a college professor and highly regarded in my field of study. Do not have your hair cut… cut hair shows cocaine and hard drugs , which is why B. Spears shaved her hair. But I’m sure you are not in the lower quadrant of the population like Ms. Spears.

Most school districts do not perform drug tests.

Even though you have first hand knowledge of this, I would not go around advertising it as making you “more fit” for the job. Many schools and parents are still very conservative. Use your knowledge in a way that will help students, but remember, you are going to be a role model.

Relax. I’ve never been tested (10 yrs).

(Why would I get a thumbs down for this answer? I haven’t ever been tested. It’s the truth.)

I only read the question, not the long book you typed. At my school, we take monthly Urine Test.

It is my fervent hope that they not only do a hair sample analysis on you, but that they also trace your IP address and get this confession out to the community that you’re planning to endanger.

I’m of the opinion that you KNOW you’re not fit to teach, and that you’re already planning to hide your past drug use so you can bypass the safeguards that are in place to keep people like you out of the classroom.

Would your first-hand experience as a bank robber make you qualified to teach youngsters about the morals of not stealing?

Pfffft.