The East Newton R-6 Board of Education is considering drug testing of students who participate in extracurricular activities.
As those of you who read this blog on a regular basis know, I am unequivocally opposed to this for two reasons.
First, we are sending the wrong message to our youth. We are teaching them about the freedoms they enjoy as American citizens at the time as we are beginning to invade their privacy more and more. Those who favor drug testing use two arguments. They say the looming threat of drug tests will keep people from taking any drugs or if they do take them, these tests will find that out and the students can receive help. The people who want to test the students are well meaning, but shortsighted.
Though there obviously are athletes, band members, etc., who do take drugs, a higher percentage of those who are taking drugs are not participating in extracurricular activities. We would probably be wanting to test these people, too, but the U. S. Constitution doesn't permit that. You can test students in extracurricular activities, according to court rulings, because it is a privilege not a right to play sports or be in clubs. Everyone has to go to school. So we are penalizing people who get involved.
Drug testing is also a waste of taxpayer money. I remember when it was first being talked about in the Carthage R-9 School District, school officials said it would cost $10,000 a year. Get more library books, get more computers, hire a teacher's aide or two, but don't spend that money on drug testing.
Proponents of drug testing always use that old phrase, "If it just saves one student, it will be worth it." These are the same people who said if we put in metal detectors and armed guards at the Jasper County Courthouse and it saves one life it will be worth it. I am strongly in favor of saving students from drugs, but there are other, better ways to do it. I hope the East Newton School Board doesn't follow through with this.