The federal government, though, doesn’t see it that way. Thursday, its “drug czarina” Bertha Madras, visited Pagosa Springs to discuss the benefits of random student drug testing. The practice is seen as a “powerful public health tool” that deters drug use among students.
The problem is, random student testing tosses presumption of innocence straight out the window.
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Additionally, critics contend random testing does not reduce student substance abuse. In 2006, Slate detailed a 2003 University of Michigan study (a follow-up to a criticized 2002 study) that showed random testing “is not associated with change in the number of students who use drugs in any category.”
None of this is to say random drug testing is totally indefensible. It’s just that the following defenses don’t pass muster:
• If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. This is the single most odious line of reasoning ever concocted because it misses the point. People, including students, are not required to prove they’ve done nothing wrong.
• For safety’s sake. Though the safety message is appealing, at its heart, drug testing isn’t about safety. It’s about control. It is worth noting students are not police officers, airline pilots, doctors or even teachers. They shouldn’t be forced to choose between privacy and an education.
• For their own good. A drug test could reveal a substance abuse problem, thereby alerting parents and other responsible adults who could help the student overcome it before it’s too late.
Of all the reasons underpinning the push for randomized student drug tests, this is the most compelling. But it still assumes a kid is guilty, or in this case, “in need of help” without any proof and requires him or her to demonstrate otherwise through invasive means.
If the true intent is to help students, we suggest paying better attention to student behavior and watching for signs of drug use. Remember, “for cause” testing is perfectly legitimate. Also, continue to educate parents and support student addicts with an eye to recovery. But come to grips with the fact that students don’t surrender their right of due process simply by walking through the doors of a publicly funded institution.
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