Random Drug Testing in Highschool
By JenInTN
@JenInTN (27514)
United States
July 26, 2012 7:36pm CST
I took my daughter tonight for her Freshman Orientation. They separated kids from parents and gave the parents a power point presentation on what to expect for the upcoming year. Now I have been through this a couple of times now, but the one thing that stood out as being different this year was a state policy that was passed where the children would be getting random drug tests. Now this is not an uncommon thing for the children that play sports for the school, but, as far as I know, this is uncommon for the other students. I guess it has made me curious about other places and their policies. Is it common that high school kids are being tested by their schools? Is it controversial or are parents pretty much in agreement? I saw a couple of parents looking shifty when they mentioned it. What do you all think?
14 people like this
9 responses
@microengineer (587)
• Indonesia
27 Jul 12
It is already common in some school in my country. And there is not much rejection. I think it is good idea when it includes rehabilitation and mental preparation for every children involved.
I can not imagine, when someone got "positive". Although, he can be healed, but how about his mentality when come back to school. And how the respond of his friends? It will be so terrible when there is another discrimination, which can lead to further destruction of him.
I guess the adult in the school must also be tested.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
18 Nov 12
We have that in schools here in Mexico. But so far,, only for the kids who play sports here. I think its a good idea.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
19 Nov 12
Those were the only ones that got randomly tested here before too. The recent law has changed it to it being a possibility for anyone enrolled. My daughter came home just a couple of weeks ago and said there was a group of kids that she knew who got tested that day. I asked her if she thought anyone who got tested was at risk for failing it and she said she didn't think so. I am wondering what is going to happen when one of them fail it. They really never went in to detail about that with us.
@AmbiePam (92474)
• United States
30 Jul 12
That sounds fair. I mean if the athletes have to do it, it only seems right everyone else would have to as well. I know it probably seems invasive, but hey, it could end up saving some people's lives. Better for them to be caught now and get help than go on how they are.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
28 Jul 12
The state is Tennessee and it is supposed to be statewide as far as I know. I don't know that it is nationwide, but it was so recently passed that they didn't even have all the details for us in the orientation..just that it was going to go into effect this year. My older daughter attended the same school just a year or so ago and she said they had thrown the idea around a little then, but it hadn't been passed.
1 person likes this
@mikyung (2232)
• Philippines
27 Jul 12
I believe that the parents has the right to make a stop for those random checks but for me, I might as well, allow it because if there is really nothing to hide here, I have no worries on letting my child to be checked. Anything good for my kid, I'm into it. Thank you.1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
27 Jul 12
I think that most people wouldn't have a problem with it if they were told they had a choice for their child, but the parents don't get a say-so on this one. I don't mind if mine gets one either. I'll have to ask her how she feels about it. She was so excited about her other stuff that she didn't mention it.
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
27 Jul 12
I know this started somewhere near me recently, I do not think it is the local school but in a larger city. They said it was discriminatory just to test athletes. I guess I would have said that I knew my kids would not be using, so it did not matter to me. I have had several jobs that tell you up front that you will be pulled for random testing and also can be pulled for cause. I do not like that this is such a common part of life.
1 person likes this
@idowrite72 (2213)
• United States
27 Jul 12
I don't find anything wrong with it but haven't heard of it being done around here anywhere. It sure could be a help to get help for those kids who need it. I can see all kinds of parents not liking the idea, but if they have nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
27 Jul 12
That's true. I have found that there is an amazing amount of parents that have the mind set that they would rather their children experiment in their home than on the street. I am not one of those parents..lol...I don't want them experimenting anywhere.
@debbygirl (213)
• Philippines
27 Jul 12
hi Jen! :)
Wow that was new to me, because i haven't heard a policy like that here in our country.
But i have a lot of friend who work in schools and government, i even have a sister who is a teacher. If i'm not mistaken, school policies like that are not just agreed by the school/parents alone, it is discussed under Department of Education or anything. Sometimes, they end up to that policies because of concerns they've been receiving from some parents or concerned citizens regarding of what they've observe around.
I'm a parent myself too and i think, it's okay if the school would have a policy like that, because i believe they do that on good purposes...
:) give it a try and see the result for your self... and i hope it will not fail you and other parents. :)
1 person likes this
