If student athletes are subject to random testing for drugs, should their coaches, other teachers, school-lunch workers and even school administrators be screened for drug and alcohol use, too?
It's a fair question, and the Murray School Board is wisely trying to answer it. The board directed the school district's director of at-risk student programs to draft a proposal to include school employees in its new drug-testing policy.The district's policy adopted in August allows random testing of student athletes, whether or not they are suspected of using drugs, and testing of any member of the student body who is thought to be using drugs.
The U.S. Supreme Court has sanctioned random testing of school athletes. The district's policy to test students suspected of using drugs and suspend those who refuse the test is related to the district's Safe Schools policy. Those students who test positive are encouraged to get treatment. Suspensions are shortened for those who do.
The district is a Utah trailblazer in school drug testing. Only one high school in the Davis School District has proposed testing students. The Granite School District is considering a policy similar to Murray's and is undoubtedly watching how Murray Dis-trict's policies work in practice.
A recent Deseret News poll indicates some 74 percent of Utahns favor random drug testing of students.
The intent of the policy, of course, is to cut down on drug use among students. It is a reaction to statistics showing widespread - and growing - drug problems in all Utah schools.
Testing of district employees makes practical sense if there is evidence or suspicion of drug use among that group or, as in the case of bus drivers, there is an obvious safety concern.
It makes sense for another reason even if employees are not suspected of using drugs: Teenagers need to realize that drugs are dangerous for everyone, not just for them, that they are not being punished or held to a different standard just because they are students and have fewer rights to privacy than adults.
Teachers, coaches and other employees should be willing to undergo the same random testing if for no other reason than to let students know they are serious about making schools and communities drug free. It would send an invaluable lesson about the importance of eliminating drugs among all age groups.
Telling students about the dangers of drugs isn't nearly as convincing as showing them that responsible adults avoid drug use and are willing to prove they are drug-free.