EDITORIAL
OUR VIEWS

Drug testing proposal is drawn too broadly

The Granite Falls School District's proposal for random drug
testing of student athletes appears wellintended, as a safety
measure. But the plan goes too far.
The district is willing to spend $3,000 for random drug testing.
If that money is committed to ending drugs and protecting kids,
there are less intrusive ways. Students' rights will be violated the
minute they're asked to perform a drug test. Imagine an
innocent tennis player who's truing to enjoy a little sunshine and
exercise, being presumed guilty for drugs or alcohol. There must
be a better way to go about drug testing. Students ought to be
assumed drugfree unless they give indications otherwise.
The proposed guidelines are too broad. Instead, the district
could perform drug tests on students they suspect are using. It
can't be that difficult to differentiate between the straight and
drugged students. Testing athletes may not even target the most
vulnerable students. Most athletes are already conscience of
their bodies and the negative effects of drugs. It's the students
who aren't involved in school activities that the administration
should worry about.
There's room for changes to the proposal to protect kids and
make schools drug free. The highest court has already given
permission to test student athletes. However, Granite Falls
ought to wait until they have reason to suspect drug use before
asking them to perform a drug test.
In the long run, a very limited testing policy should make
school officials more aware, knowing that they need to be on
the look out for students on drugs and knowing they can do
something about it.