elkoholic Posted February 12, 2009 Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 I am looking for a little input on drug testing in schools. Should there be drug testing? Should it be both students and teachers/administrators? If drug testing is to be, should it be random? Should it be suspicion based? Should it be just for those participating in extra-curriculum activities? Should everyone be tested? Thanks for any and all input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted February 12, 2009 Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 I could be wrong but when we had drug testing at one of my past employers it was strictly random. The other option was testing everyone. You could not say hey "TODD" has to be test because we suspect him of doing something. If so it became a legal issue since you was saying just TODD.....However if you say everyone must have a drug test and since everyone was tested and not just 1 person it was ok. But all could be different within a school system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted February 12, 2009 Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 Schools are pretty well strapped financially as it is, I don't see any need to test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted February 12, 2009 Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 At my highschool it was athletes only and it was all of us. Same way for college athletics. I was tested monthly when I ran track for Eastern Oklahoma State. Its my opinion that every single person, student-admin, should be tested every 90 days on a random rotating schedule for different groups. Say have a percentage in group A thats test the first half of the testing month, then group B be tested the second half. Drugs are not for school, and I think drug testing policies should be more strict. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted February 12, 2009 Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 Two part answer. At my work, you have to pass a drug test to be hired and then subject to random test at the companies discretion. I would hope that all employees of a school district would have the same guide lines. If anyone should be drug free, it should be the teachers of this countries future. Now for page 2. I believe the extra-curricular activities should all be subject to drug/steroid testing. I think the general population of the students should be handled by if a student gets in trouble i.e., fights, excessive tardies or absenses, failing grades etc. then they should be subject to a drug test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted February 12, 2009 Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 Schools are pretty well strapped financially as it is, I don't see any need to test. Very good point, but drug tests are not that expensive....but regardless it would be an added cost to already strapped school districts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoythunter37 Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 When I was in high school we had drug testing. We were a class 2 school district where all sports programs had to have random drug testing. I didnt think it was to bad. Heck with the pro's gettin into stuff it's away to start off with drug testing off the bat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 As far as schools go, no testing except for extra-circulars. The responsibility of a drug-free child is on the parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 If my high school had drug testing...i can tell you one thing for sure ( at least when i was there), they wouldnt have had much of a soccer program...or any athletic program for that matter...especially soccer...(hippies!!!!) i think drug testing in high school is rather ridiculous...What is the need to drug test for? If a kid gets bad grades, you could blame it on drugs/alcohol...but it could stem from a number of different things. What kids do out of school is irrelevent...whether they like to dress up like fairies and run around in the woods, or drink a bottle of jim beam 7 nights a week..it is irrelevent to the school district... Not to mention. isnt it pretty expensive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 The only exception i could see for mandatory drug testing in high school would be for students who take Drivers Ed through the school. I say this because they are potentially a liability when driving the districts vehicle with other passengers. Other than that, i think it is a dumb idea...JMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 Two part answer. At my work, you have to pass a drug test to be hired and then subject to random test at the companies discretion. I would hope that all employees of a school district would have the same guide lines. If anyone should be drug free, it should be the teachers of this countries future. As far as i know, none of my friends who are teachers have drug testing PERIOD...That is a little ironic i think..My drivers ed teacher was a lush....hmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJL Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 THERE IS NO POINT IN MAKING LAWS, POLICIES OR RULES THAT NO ONE IS WILLING TO ENFORCE. From Public School Districts to the United States Congress to the Realtree Forums there is no point in having guidelines unless we are willing to stand by them and use them as the parameters by which we are judged. To make policies and not enforce them is foolhardy at best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 THERE IS NO POINT IN MAKING LAWS, POLICIES OR RULES THAT NO ONE IS WILLING TO ENFORCE. From Public School Districts to the United States Congress to the Realtree Forums there is no point in having guidelines unless we are willing to stand by them and use them as the parameters by which we are judged. To make policies and not enforce them is foolhardy at best. Expensive too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted February 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 The reason for this post is that one of the local schools is proposing a drug testing program in response to an ever increasing problem. Someone needs to address the drug and alcohol problem in our society and, unless you have been living in seclusion for the past several decades, you are aware that this issue has infiltrated the elementary schools. Leaving the "parenting" up to the parents is not a good choice as there is a large contingent of parents out there who are living a drug and alcohol filled life. Some of these parents are "suppliers" and most simply do not care. Expensive. Maybe, but so is the fallout years later. There are a lot of laws, rules, policies and regulations that are not enforced proactively, but get caught and see what happens. Also, remember that for just about every law, rule, policy or regulation someone, somewhere, did something stupid to warrant enactment of the regulatory act. Thanks for the input so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 Why is it the school's responsibility to police this. Aren't they in the business of educating the children? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 im 28 almost 29, and i had no idea this was hitting the elementary level....does it suprise me? to an extent... but either way, if these kids are getting hammered and going to school, i would think that the local authorities should step in at this point. I feel that it is the teachers' job to notice and report such behavior to the school administrators, who should then, in turn, notify the local authorities. In no way do i think the schools are at fault, nor do i think it is the districts responsibility to deal with students who are dealing with these issues. I feel there is a fine line where the school district policies and procedures stop, and the local authorities (police, DCFS, etc.)begin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 Hmmm...I think schools should stick to testing kids for information taught, and it should be up to the PARENTS to test their kids if suspicion arises of using drugs. Which could be at the request of the school if the child is caught doing something they should'nt be doing. Hey, with heath care costs soaring, I think it will be just a matter of time before insurance companies do not cover someone for an illness due to drug usage. My health insurance won't pay for ANY injuries incurred from a DWI or any injuries from a criminal act for that matter. I do think ALL on public assistance should pass drug tests before money is given to help. I don't mind helping, but not helping the local drug dealer earn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted February 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 I'm not so sure it is the school's responsibility. In this day and age we all know that no one is really responsible for anything. I would think it hard to teach someone on drugs/alcohol or recovering from the affects of said intoxicants. It could be that the schools are in an excellent position to observe and make subjective decisions concerning the behavior of individual students and to put into motion a system to detect and alter the behavior that is detrimental to society. I do think that teachers and school administrators would like to think that all that they should have to do is educate, but as a parent whose child is in school for seven to eight hours a day I must disagree with that line of thinking. Both of my children (now in their upper 20s) still recall issues that could, and should, have been addressed in school. This brings up some other issues not related to this post, but let me address one of them. A teacher/administrator needs to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. None of this "What I do on my time is my business" stuff. You are a role model, like it or not. Responsible? If someone does not step up to the plate then it all plays out in the legal system down the road, or maybe just in loss of productivity, but no matter, it only gets more expensive. Maybe, just maybe, we should drug test in school because we care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 no to drug testing in schools. there's really no reason to. if a kid is tested and fails, you can't do anything to him anyway. you certainly can't throw him out. after school, most companies have a random drug testing policy and fire you if you test positive. i just wish they would do the same with welfare folks. test them, and stop the check when they fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 Thought teachers were already supposed to be subject to random screenings based on any concerns? I agree with Jim though, if no one can or will enforce such a thing there is really no need for making it law. As far as kids go, if the school has concerns then the school should notify the parents and let them handle it. If the parents are not responsible, then the school should contact whatever agency in that state deals with child protective services and let them do what they are already being paid to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nut Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 I would oppose it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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