Alcohol and drug testing in public schools has become a hot issue. Recently, Carmel High School in Carmel, Ind., made headlines when school administrators decided to test all of their students who attend their high school football games, according to an article published in The Indianapolis Star.
While I agree with the school’s decision on merit, because high school students shouldn’t be drinking anyway, I feel their motives are misplaced.
CHS Principal John Williams “emphasized that the school isn’t expanding its alcohol testing to football games because of an increase in underage drinking.”
OK, so why are they now testing the students for alcohol? According to the article, it’s a matter of simply possessing the technology.
While I really want to argue against the school’s actions and discuss right-to-privacy, well, I just can’t. The truth is that schools are liable and responsible for students on their way to, during, and leaving any school activities. This means that it is not only permissible for schools to monitor underage drinking, but they are negligent if they don’t.
Why would anyone complain about being tested for something that they aren’t supposed to be doing anyway? It’s illegal, but we all know that people are doing it.
So I applaud Carmel High School for taking the initiative regarding underage drinking, but what about drug use and smoking?
While the U.S. Supreme Court upheld that public schools are allowed to drug test their students in 2002, state laws are still applicable, and each state is different.
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that it’s within their state constitution to permit schools to test students for drugs and alcohol but not for nicotine.
This selective exercise in prohibition is deplorable. While cigarettes are causing more health problems and killing people, it’s somehow more important to keep students from watching a football game with a buzz. What message does this send to underage smokers?
Let’s get our priorities straight.