Random Drug Testing for High School Athletes

[JJsqueeze]

Naive perhaps, but less naive than hoping parents will do anything positive.

Drugs have a negative impact on the learning environment. Much more than on any sports environment. Schools are doing what they can to discourage the use. Because too many parents won't/ don't.

The harsh truth is that kids that have the parents you describe are screwed in more ways than the school can possibly fix and the kids that have involved parents do not need the school's help.

Also-Kids that participate in extra curricular activities are by definition less likely to be at risk. It is the kids that are getting bad grades, withdrawn, not participating in activities that are at risk and those are the kids you can't test....

as with all things having to do with the government...this applies


"There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane, he had to fly them. If he flew them, he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to, he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle."

 

[Easton33]

I can't tell if you are trolling or just stupid. Either way:

https://www.google.com/search?q=college+athletes+exploitation

Unfortunately after reading several of ur posts over an extended period of time I can tell exactly which one you are.

 

[Easton33]

Suggesting the removal of college sports is ludicrous. The negative economic and educational impact is immeasurable. People make money off of college athletes, people make money off of handicap kids too. Although college athletes do not share in the proceeds of the sport they are getting a free education. The school is paying them by way of scholarships and are making money off of them. Much like the owners of every company are doing. Granted the returns are much larger for colleges vs businesses.. I support efforts to relax rules and get college athletes more living expenses. To say cut the program entirely is just dumb. College athletics is a positive and provides opportunities for a wide variety people. The loss of college athletics would be devastating, HS, not so much.

 

[Coachmom]

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.” C.S. Lewis

 

[Country Boy]

The harsh truth is that kids that have the parents you describe are screwed in more ways than the school can possibly fix and the kids that have involved parents do not need the school's help.

Also-Kids that participate in extra curricular activities are by definition less likely to be at risk. It is the kids that are getting bad grades, withdrawn, not participating in activities that are at risk and those are the kids you can't test....

So good, involved parents don't need help? I must suck as a parent because I took all the help I could get to keep my kids off drugs and not pregnant. I used our church, school counselors, role models.

I know numerous parents that believe drugs aren't a problem in our schools. Many of their children are evidence to the contrary, but the parents refuse to see it.

As to your second point, we had 2 student athletes enter our school one morning last year stinking of dope. This is in a HS of less than 200 students. I guess they weren't aware they were at less risk of drug abuse.

I understand that some are against spending resources to try to keep our youth off drugs. But I look at it as we can pay a small amount now or we can pay large amounts for the rest of their lives as society supports them and their habit. Neither choice is a good one. But I have a preference.

 

[Coachmom]

I understand that some are against spending resources to try to keep our youth off drugs. But I look at it as we can pay a small amount now or we can pay large amounts for the rest of their lives as society supports them and their habit. Neither choice is a good one. But I have a preference.

This is a false dichotomy
False Dichotomy

 

[John T]

Coachmom,
As you know the Supreme Court does not agree with you on the drug testing... and they are what we have for the rule of law. It is a privilege to play sports, be in activities and park your car in the student lot. When kids are in school the schools are responsible for them (Nolo Parentis (sp?) and they are subject to searches of their lockers, book bags, cars in the parking lots, etc. by the school only (NOT the POLICE they need probable cause and a warrant). And safety trumps your interpretation of the Constitution.

Easton 33,
Schools do not just teach us about math, english, science and history, they teach us about life and if they can teach a lesson about drug and alcohol use and if that reinforces what the parents should be teaching I am all for it. As far as resources being used up it is all done by a private firm and it is not at a high cost.

GOINGDEEP,
The tests are random and there is no time to take whatever it is they THINK can defeat the test. People were sucking on pennies to try and avoid a DWI but that does not work and neither do the over the counter crap they are selling. Drink a TON of water and it will flush it out more quickly, take this pill etc...

I will leave you all with this...we live in a great country that allows us many freedoms and one of them is playing out on this forum...While we do not agree we can have this conversation and it is for the most part respectful (Thank you all for that!).

 

[JJsqueeze]

So good, involved parents don't need help? I must suck as a parent because I took all the help I could get to keep my kids off drugs and not pregnant. I used our church, school counselors, role models.

I know numerous parents that believe drugs aren't a problem in our schools. Many of their children are evidence to the contrary, but the parents refuse to see it.

As to your second point, we had 2 student athletes enter our school one morning last year stinking of dope. This is in a HS of less than 200 students. I guess they weren't aware they were at less risk of drug abuse.

I understand that some are against spending resources to try to keep our youth off drugs. But I look at it as we can pay a small amount now or we can pay large amounts for the rest of their lives as society supports them and their habit. Neither choice is a good one. But I have a preference.

I don't recall saying anything about not needing help or insulting you as a parent. What I was trying to get across was the statistical fact that kids with good, involved parents and who participate in school activities are LESS LIKELY to have a problem and if they do then it is the parents who should be in the driver's seat in identifying it and resolving it. OF course good kids from good families can wind up with a drug problem, pregnant etc. But the kid from the family with the absentee dad, and the alcoholic mom has a higher chance of getting on the wrong tracks in life right? If a parent finds a problem and they want to involve the school that is their choice, family, friends, clergy, police, every community resource can play a role if a kid has a problem, I just don't happen to think that drug testing kids randomly is effective or smart.

But two student athletes showing up smelling like pot is not a one way ticket to turning tricks for meth so let's not overreact and call everything abuse.

 

[Coachmom]

Studies show...
Study Finds Random Drug Testing Doesn

 

[Il softball fan]

Did high school sports change that much since I was in school? If we were tested for alcohol at my high school we would have never fielded a team in any sport.

Exactly. I'm a product of the late 80's. From my very first party as a freshman to be introduced to team bonding by the seniors, all the way through graduation....we were partying. A lot. We drank on weekends. We drank during lunch time some times, and a few times, I remember drinking in the parking lot before games. We, of course has some kind of code of conduct thing that all student athletes signed, but there was never any threat of random testing.

Fast forward to now... the same high school. I have a freshman DD who is a cheerleader. She has been randomly tested two times already this year.