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NEW JERSEY RANDOM DRUG TESTING
NEW JERSEY: LAST WEEK'S ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court on student drug testing offers New Jersey schools another option for fighting substance abuse. But under the wording of the carefully phrased opinion, random drug testing of New Jersey high school students is likely to remain rare. That's a good thing.
In a 4-3 vote, the court upheld the program used by Hunterdon Central Regional High School, which randomly tests students involved in all extracurricular activities and all students who park cars on school property. School officials say the testing was a reaction to increased drug use and has been a deterrent.
The Supreme Court's narrow vote upheld Hunterdon Central's right to test the students, but said the model can only be used within strict limits and only with evidence of a big drug problem. New Jersey schools already have the authority to test those students who exhibit signs of drug use and student athletes. Only nine districts in New Jersey randomly test athletes.
The line between school safety and effectiveness and students' constitutional rights is a fine one. Although high school students don't have the same rights as adults, they shouldn't be treated as if they lived in a totalitarian state and had no rights at all. Most New Jersey districts have decided they can keep substance abuse under control without resorting to random testing.
NEW JERSEY: LAST WEEK'S ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court on student drug testing offers New Jersey schools another option for fighting substance abuse. But under the wording of the carefully phrased opinion, random drug testing of New Jersey high school students is likely to remain rare. That's a good thing.
In a 4-3 vote, the court upheld the program used by Hunterdon Central Regional High School, which randomly tests students involved in all extracurricular activities and all students who park cars on school property. School officials say the testing was a reaction to increased drug use and has been a deterrent.
The Supreme Court's narrow vote upheld Hunterdon Central's right to test the students, but said the model can only be used within strict limits and only with evidence of a big drug problem. New Jersey schools already have the authority to test those students who exhibit signs of drug use and student athletes. Only nine districts in New Jersey randomly test athletes.
The line between school safety and effectiveness and students' constitutional rights is a fine one. Although high school students don't have the same rights as adults, they shouldn't be treated as if they lived in a totalitarian state and had no rights at all. Most New Jersey districts have decided they can keep substance abuse under control without resorting to random testing.
