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July 12, 2006
More schools move toward drug testing for students
While recent studies indicate that teen drug use has declined slightly, some schools and school districts are taking matters into their own hands in order to combat drug abuse. The Supreme Court opened the door for drug testing when it ruled in 2002 that a school system's duty to provide a safe, drug-free environment outweighs students' expectations of privacy.
USA Today has two articles today about the growing trend of schools testing for drugs in students. The first states that "In the 2005-2006 school year, 373 public secondary schools got federal money for testing, up from 79 schools two years ago." As BoardBuzz reported last month, New Jersey became the first state to introduce a statewide steroid-testing policy for high school athletes. But the USA Today articles indicate that testing goes beyond just athletes. The second article highlights several schools that have implemented the testing and assert that the testing deters drug use among teens. Hackettstown (NJ) High School principal Chris Steffner asserts, "It works in the workplace and it works in the military. Why wouldn't it work in a school?"
Opponents of testing argue that it violates students' right to privacy and question its efficacy. According to the article, "The ACLU argues that testing destroys trust between students and schools and discourages teens from joining after school activities. The group also questions testing's effectiveness. Research is inconclusive."
Posted July 12, 2006 11:36 AM |
Health & Wellness
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