Posted by gonefishen (anonymous) on July 21, 2009 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In all fairness, the board should have made this a county wide policy. The board should govern equally instead of allowing schools to pick and choose policies of this magnitude for themselves. I guess extra-curricular activities includes everything from athletics to beauty night?

Posted by Mof2 (anonymous) on July 21, 2009 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree. The drug testing should've been county wide just like the school uniforms should've been county wide.

Posted by ldavenport (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 5:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I strongly agree with you, Mof2, about school uniforms and drug testing, why single out one school.

Posted by kgd0731 (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't know about the drug testing, but the decision for the one county school to wear uniforms was made by the school, not the board of education. Every other school in the county can institute a school uniform policy if they so choose.

Posted by kgd0731 (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

By the way, I agree that both of these policies should be county-wide, although I really have no say in the situation since my children are already out of school and will not likely live in this area when/if they ever have children.

Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Bring it on! Find a way to fund a state-wide drug-testing program. The drug abuse and danger to the "good" kids is nation-wide. There are only a select few that are taking and selling drugs. Hit these people hard and stop them dead in their tracks. "The program includes "penalties", suspension, etc. BULL! Send their carcasses to boot camp, with their parents right behind them! People, the "system" is too soft on criminals. The drug dealers and abusers LAUGH at the "punishment" they get, if caught. They know they will be right back out on the streets and in school before you can flip a coin. Today, if CCHS, or any high school were locked down for a drug raid where each individual and crack and crevis in the school could be gone over (vehicles, too), your jaws would drop. Not to mention the weapons confiscated.

Posted by juswannabeheard (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

In some aspects I agree with eagle1. However, as a parent of one of today's teens I have to say that I find it alittle too close to home to say that the parents should be sent to boot camp with thier delinquent teens.

All of the so called "experts" like Dr. Spock, Dr. Phil, and ect. say you have to teach the child to take responsibiity for thier choices. In roughly 90% of these cases the parents aren't even aware of what the children are doing. That doesn't make them bad parents. It says that they trust thier children and that they are giving them the benefit of the doubt, until proven different. Which is what these drug test will do. So to send the parents to jail would be to punish them for parenting thier children in today's accepted manner instead of in the good ole fashion way of spare the rod, spoil the child.

Remember, child abuse isn't universally defined and standards accepted by all. What you may declare as neglect may be someone elses giving freedom to grow or mature.

Now what the parents do with the knowledge once the school identifies the problem.......

Posted by baseball1 (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

In no way can criminal charges be brought against any of these kids that test positive for drugs at school. If they actually have the drug in their possession when they are caught, then they could be charged, but there is no law against having the drug in your system. I don't make the law, I'm just telling you what it says. Kids cannot be sent to a "boot camp" unless they are convicted of a criminal charge. You don't just get to walk in and say I want to send my kid to jail, or boot camp without due process. This is a parental problem. Parents need to supervise their kids. Get involved in their lives, know who their friends are, search their rooms, look at what they are putting on their my space and face book page. Wake up!!!! More and more the school system and the "government" is having to do the job of the parents. It is the schools job to teach reading, writing and arithmetic. It's the parents job to teach their kids right from wrong and morals, but most parents now days are more concerned with themselves than they are with their kids. We are a generation of people who think it is someone else responsibility. Most people won't even admit when they make a mistake. GROW UP!!! Admit when you're wrong, accept the consequences and go on. Quit looking to the government to solve all your problems.

Posted by thirdforce (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The article did not mention who was going to pay for the testing. Are the athletes required to pay for the testing as part of the athletic fee or will the school/board pay for it? Also, I hope that the "policy" of being "penalized" or "suspended" applies to ALL students who test positive. Mr. DeJarnett and his coaching staff (and the BOE) will be under a very scrutinizing public eye during this "pilot" project, so it would be best to leave the broom in the closet so the rug doesn't get swept under......

Posted by NoMoreDrugWar (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oregon Health & Science University researchers just concluded a two-year study called SATURN (Student Athlete Testing Using Random Notification http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/perio...).

This is the first-ever prospective, randomized clinical trial to measure the deterrent effects of drug and alcohol testing among high school athletes. They report that random drug and alcohol testing does not reliably keep student-athletes from using. They also found that drug testing increases some risk factors for future substance use. These findings are published in the November issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, the journal of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

Student drug testing places kids in greater danger for a variety of reasons. Marijuana is the substance most commonly used by youth and is the safest of all substances, both licit and illicit. Students who might engage in a little youthful indiscretion by smoking pot once in a while, might move to harder drugs like meth and prescription narcotics because they are out of your system in 72 hours, whereas the broken down metabolites of marijuana, while causing no harm, are detectable in the human body for up to 45 days. Kids are also known to do crazy things like drink bleach in hopes of masking drugs in their system. That is extremely dangerous.

Parents and educators should also be aware that the following organizations oppose randomly drug testing students: National Education Association, the Association for Addiction Professionals, the American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of Social Workers, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

If that many professionals say NO to student drug testing, studies show it doesn't work and might even place kids in greater danger then why do we continue to see schools push for these invasive and dehumanizing programs for our kids?

Posted by NoMoreDrugWar (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

thirdforce...The federal government usually forks out the money to pay for this drug testing baloney.

I say if people want to know if their kids are using drugs they should test their kids themselves. Or take them to a pediatrician. Most pediatricians are against drug testing though.

Anyone ever wonder where this information goes after testing? Is it stored in a database somewhere where it might possibly harm a kid in the future in terms of getting educational grants and scholarships or a job?

Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey, if you aren't doing or selling drugs, you don't have a thing to worry about, RIGHT? What's a kid? "Kids" are sexually active now as early as 10 YEARS OLD! SIX YEAR OLD "KIDS" HAVE SHOT PEOPLE IN COLD BLOOD! "Kids" will cut your throat, sell and use drugs, and pour gas on dogs and cats and burn them alive!

So, go ahead and feel sorry for the little innocent "kids" that never do anything wrong, except turn YOUR kids into drug addicts.

Posted by BamaMadd (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why just the ones involved in extracurricular's?

Posted by baseball1 (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Because case law says that if you are not acting as an arm of the school in some extra way you cannot be tested.

Posted by southernpride (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with eagle1 in that if your kid is not doing drugs, what difference does it make if they are tested. Sounds like someone may know something about their kid that they do not want others to know.

I don't agree with all kids being tested at school, just those that represent the school by doing extra curricular activities.

However, I se nothing wrong with randam tests for teachers and other employees that are in charge of the kids. I also include the complete bd of ed in this. They do some things that make wonder if they are drugged such as only doing this at CCHS and not county wide.

Posted by blackwater (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

NoMoreDrugWar. Glad to see someone present a well thought out opinion. Schools have no business drug testing students. A false-positive result could ruin a kid's future. A class that educates students on the consequences of drugs wouldn't be a bad idea, but leave the testing up to the parents if that's what they choose to do.

Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How did I know?

Posted by kittycreek (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't think kids should be drug tested either- at least not by the school system. If your kid is doing their school work and making pretty good grades and they are cheerful, and as cooperative as you can expect from a teen; ya know- basically a good kid, then, why drug test?

Posted by kwsrgraves (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

eagle, I saw your comment about, "not to mention the weapons". When we were in school, at CCHS, in the 80s, we carried shotguns in gun racks. As long as the vehicle was locked, and firearms unloaded, it was NO issue. Pot and Powder were rampant. The kids that were active with the "drug" group were sons and daughters of local preachers, politicians, teachers, and police officers. They were the ones who could afford it and had easy access to it. My children are all out of school now. But, if they were in school, I would have no problem with a well documented, legally bullet proof, testing procedure. But this fly by night, ill defined testing procedure, wreaks of a NASCAR/Jeremy Mayfield scenario. The first false positive from Red Bull Cola, (contains coca leaf extract), poppy seeds, or those sinus medications, (over the counter, but have to be signed for), or many other legal substances containing the alkaloids or other chemical compisitions that give a false positive, and the lawsuits will cost more than the people with a lack of legal foresight can imagine.

I agree with testing in the workplace. My safety depends on it. But, testing in the classroom is another slippery slope. If there is a well defind policy, hey, I'll vote with Republicans to electrocute, hang, or shoot a 15 year old that tests positive, even falsely, for sinus meds! Yeah, riiiight!

Posted by Rickey (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The implementation of policy (any policy) generally occures slowly and gradually. Today, testing for CCHS and then only for atheletes, follows this pattern to a tee. At some point, when we are all use to testing and it has become an old topic, the policy will be extended to other schools, probably staring with the Atheletic Department and then trickling throughout the general student body. Just my humble opinion :)

Posted by PhilBurnette (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hmm, debbyrose says "No child should have to take a drug test unless there is %$&#^@% good reason too!!"

Well, here is your good reason - a rule has been implemented. It has to do with respecting the rules and meeting responsibilities. It has nothing to do with trust.

If a kid wants to participate in extra-curricular activities they have to comply with the rules. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

Get all self-righteous and indignant if you want but rules are rules. Either comply or do not participate. Don't like the rules? Then vote out those who made them and vote in someone who tells you they will do what you want. Good luck with that.

Posted by Littlelady8451 (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 9:15 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by gkeys (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 10:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Look at it this way Littlelady8451....no one is paying attention to her posts…I didn’t see it until you pointed it out :-)

Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OH, that was cold gkeys. Dr, if your child didn't use or sell drugs, what problem would you have in the school searching? If I was a kid, I wouldn't mind a bit, because I would have a clear conscience, and it would mean less time in the classroom! What's the big deal? You act like it's a racial discrimination thing or something. And what about "putting them through this". It's not an obstacle course with fire loops you have to jump through, or knives being thrown at you. It's called "prevention" and being "proactive" in fighting drugs and keeping our kids safe.

Posted by juswannabeheard (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I've personally witnessed an incident where an athlete sold drugs to kids in a school. The purchasers were expelled and the athlete went on to play football 2 days later. The principal told me that he knew the athlete was selling but he didn't have anyone who would stand up to him. Then he gets two kids that both were willing to point the finger and the next thing you know the principal is backing his dope dealing line backer. Nothing ever happened to the dealer, and he graduated this past May. But the two kids that were expelled for buying the drugs never finished school and thier lives are ruined.

Where is the justice in this situation?

If you are going to fight a war on drugs in any community you have to involve the whole community and hit the dealers where it hurts, thier primary market group.

I say take K-9 units to all schools, search all cars, lockers, children, faculty, desk, lunchroom. You name it, search it. Parents all over the county will be surprised.

As for it being bad parenting for your child to be doing drugs. That is bull. Kids have freedom to go to work, go on dates, go to school, hang out with friends, or even go for a walk in thier neighborhood. All of which are times that they can get away from their parents and sneak a couple of huffs in. Parents have been fighting the drug war with thier children for decades. When someone comes up with a full proof plan please let me know.

Posted by myhumbleopinion (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

First, let's go all the way back to gonefishen's first comment...I agree that this should include ALL extracurricular activities....beauty night, blast, band, science club, newspaper staff, yearbook committee, student government, etc. I understand the "case law" argument that restricts testing to "representatives" of the school. Understand it, but don't agree with it.....
I do agree that, for the most part, the drug issue is a parental concern. Parents should take responsibility and "police" their children so that the state doesn't have to. However, the "me" generation has failed miserably in parenting. Because of this the rest of us are having to pay for it. If parents would stop trying to be their kids' "friend" and start being their parent, well the world would be a better place.

Now, on to the uniform issue.....this has always been a sore spot for me.....I feel it is also a parenting issue. First, if uniform policy is implemented to prevent children from wearing inappropriate clothing, this is a parenting problem. Call the parent...make them leave their job (or their "stories") and come for a conference and to pick the child up....keep doing this until the parent gets the message or until the child being sent home or suspended causes the involvement of the truancy officer. Second, if the uniform policy is implemented to protect the children from the trauma of "not having what the other kids have"....please......they are too spoiled as it is. They need to learn that they don't always get everything they want....ESPECIALLY if they don't EARN it. Most of the problem with this country today is that everybody thinks they deserve and/or are owed everything!!
When I was growing up we didn't always have the "right" clothes or shoes....and when the kids who did looked down on us or made fun of us, it made us tougher. In fact, it motivated us to make something of our lives so that we could have the things we wanted. And we felt better about having those things because we EARNED them!! I am sure someone has an argument about the wondrous benefits (financially and otherwise) of a school uniform policy, but I see it as detriment to the building of character and individualism.
Dude...stop yawning! lol

Posted by kittycreek (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Eagle,

It's kind of a bummer for girls to fill the cup. If you don't believe me, try holding the cup for your significant other while she makes that attempt. ☺

Posted by PhilBurnette (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A requirement for participation is not a lack of trust or an act of intentional humiliation. It is a matter of safety and integrity where drug testing is concerned.

If you do not want to take the test do not try to participate. It is quite simple. So all who are offended about this, get off your high horse. Or do you have some reason to fear YOUR child being tested and potentially outed?

I have never once feared a test being done on myself or any of my kids. If they acted as they were raised to they would be clean. If not, I wanted to know so measures could be taken before one of my children wound up in prison or dead.

Do you truly want to remain in ignorance and denial and possibly visit a prison or cemetery rather than spending time with your free, LIVE and healthy child? Think about that.

Posted by amanda_adams (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Random drug searches HAVE been in our schools since I was a kid in school 2o years ago. Why the up roar now when it's needed more than ever?

As a mother of a teenager in the Clanton School system, as well as one recently out of it, I do believe it should start at home, but I have no problem with the policy for extra curricular activities. I agree with it. Most jobs I have ever held has had a drug policy in place- I could've chose not to take that job, if I had something to hide. And the same for these students. And the other students would be better off not having them there.

I believe there are factors that need to be taken into account though.
1. the possibility of a false positve. it does happen. Have some type of guidelines- that the first time is sorta a warning, but they be required (at there own expense) to submit to more in depth testing in order to stay on the team. (not sure exactly how to lay it out, but someone involved in this project needs too)

2. Figure out guidelines that will help the student/parents get help. Not pay for it, but a plan of resources that can be passed on for help. Don't just kick them out and forget them.

3. It should be ALL activities associated with the school and be as basic as students attending any event--if the teacher/staff has a reason to believe they are high

and

4. Strict coverage from the BOE that coaches do not work behind the scenes to cover up and keep there key players on the field. And I do believe any staff caught doing this should be FIRED!!!

I don't know any of the coaches now- just basing that on when I was in school and there were coaches that would put pressure on teachers to give the football players passing grades and some coaches went as far as to get other students to do work for them. This I know for a fact, and that was in the days when all they had to worry about was keeping a C average. What would they do now to cover up a positive test, or prevent that student from being tested until after "the big game"??

I think there are MANY factors that have to be looked at, but something HAS TO BE DONE. And unfortunately it's not as simple as leaving it up to the parents. They should be aware, but there are MANY reasons they may not be. And all are not as simple as the parents don't want to know. I don't think my daughter would touch drugs, and I hope I never receive a call from her school to come get her for it. But I can honestly say that I would rather SOMEONE catch it, and tell me to get her help, then her continue and destroy her life and possibly her future families because I was unaware.