THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 24, 1995 TAG: 9502240066
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Teenology
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
THE DECISION was unanimous: Schools shouldn't perform random drug tests on all students, but testing athletes is a good idea.
``They can check your lockers,'' said Davon Yonkers, a 17-year-old senior at Wilson High School. ``To go as far as a drug test, it's ridiculous to me.''
Six Wilson students at a Teenspeak session this week agreed, several saying it would be an invasion of privacy.
The question isn't just theoretical. In the General Assembly on Tuesday, the full Senate voted down a bill that would have allowed random drug testing of students. But the full House overwhelmingly approved the measure, which means it's likely to resurface in future sessions.
Senior Robert Hargraves, 17, noted that the tests won't necessarily catch drug dealers. ``Just because you're taking dope doesn't mean you're pushing dope,'' he said.
And junior Kristi Unzicker, 16, said students who get tested might get a bad rap at school. ``Other kids will automatically stereotype you: You're automatically doing drugs,'' she said.
The bill in the General Assembly would have required the state Board of Education to draft guidelines for school systems to start voluntary drug-testing programs.
The backer, Del. Frank W. Wagner, D-Virginia Beach, said the tests should be given only to students whose parents requested it. But the Wilson students said they didn't think many parents would go for it.
``Parents would think it would be all right for the other kids,'' said Perez Bottoms, a 17-year-old junior.
Theresa Smith, an 18-year-old senior, said, ``Some parents think their children are perfect angels, and they couldn't deal with finding out if they're doing it or not.''
The issue will also be tackled by the U.S. Supreme Court this year. In December, the court agreed to hear a case on random drug tests for athletes in Oregon. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit last year declared the program unconstitutional.
But the Wilson students all thought drug tests of athletes were appropriate because some use drugs to improve their performance. ``There are a lot of drugs used by athletes to overcome fear,'' Robert said. ``Normally, a guy my size wouldn't run into a guy 6-7.''
A few students said school efforts to improve safety and decrease drug use - such as installing video cameras - don't work. ``They set up the cameras all around, but people can go outside and smoke weed,'' said Amy Long, a 17-year-old senior.
So what's the answer? Parents, the Wilson teens said.
``Parents need to become more responsible,'' Robert said, ``and stop depending on schools to teach everything. They rely on schools to teach about sex, they rely on schools to teach about drugs.''
Davon added: ``Parents need to bring kids up with moral values, knowing what's right and what's wrong. My mother, she's a single parent, and she raised me with good values.'' ILLUSTRATION: It's like an invasion of privacy. If you're doing good in
school, what you do in your free time is nobody's business. Perez
Bottoms, junior, 17
To go as far as a drug test, it's ridiculous to me. I'm my own
person. Davon Yonkers, senior, 17
They don't need to get into that depth of your life. Kristi
Unzicker, junior, 16.
I don't think they should. It's an invasion of privacy. I would be
offended. Theresa Smith, senior, 18
I feel it's unnecessary. If I'm not doing anything to hurt anybody
else, I don't feel they should test me Robert Hargraves, senior, 17
I really don't think it's necessary. It's an invasion of privacy.
Amy Long, senior, 17.
by CNB