Kansas schools take drug testing to extreme
September 16th, 2006 by ddetox
Random drug testing of student athletes has become as routine as study hall and lunch at many high schools across the country. But this factory town outside Wichita is taking testing to the extreme.
It is instituting random drug screening for all middle and high school students participating in — or even just attending — any extracurricular activity. That includes sports, clubs, field trips, driver’s education, even school plays.
Those who don’t sign consent forms cannot attend games, go to school dances, join a club or so much as park their car on school property.
Administrators insist the district does not have a drug problem, and say the new policy — one of the toughest in the nation — is aimed at keeping it that way.
“We see this in the best interest of our students. We don’t see this is a punitive measure,” said Superintendent Tom Biggs.
Since the policy was enacted this school year, at least 425 students out of 600 high schoolers, and 215 of the 315 middle school students, have signed forms consenting to random urine tests for alcohol, tobacco and drugs. No one has been tested yet, and school officials don’t want to tip off students about when the first random drug test will be conducted.
The Associated Press