There's still time for reality check in UFRSD
After suffering the heartbreak of the recent discussion that has been going on in the community regarding the Upper Freehold Regional School District's interest in instituting a random drug testing policy, many questions raised in my mind.

First, the policy appears to be aimed at those students who wish to engage in extracurricular activities. What case can the Board of Education make for random drug testing of students who will be in full view of faculty and staff during those times when the extracurricular activities are occurring? Is there not already disciplinary policy that governs inappropriate behavior while those extracurricular events are in session?

Second, what rational person is going to believe that some students who are not engaged in extracurricular activities will not be doing illicit things involving drugs while at their homes or in other places where they may congregate? These students will not necessarily be identified as potential problems simply because of the limitation of the testing to those in extracurricular participation.

Third, how even-handed is a random drug policy if it aims only at students? To be equal, the random drug testing ought to be instituted from the superintendent on down to the janitor. What is good for the goose should also be good for the gander.

Fourth, in the instance of performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids that an athlete might use, there are several telltale signs of its use. Inordinately fast weight gain, puffy and bloated muscle tissue and personality changes are all outward signs of anabolic steroid use, also known as "roid rage." These and others are all welldocumented in athletic circles and sports medicine. Why test if the proof stares you in the face?

Fifth, is there really that big a drug problem in the Upper Freehold Regional School District? The declining numbers that have been reported in the Examiner recently and the percentage of the involved population of grades 9-12 would not appear to be evidencing a big problem requiring the level of intervention the random drug testing process recommends.

Sixth, has anyone considered the ramifications of a "false positive" test? Who pays the litigation costs to make that error right? The local taxpayer does, that's who. That's my tax money that would otherwise have been better spent to educate the children, which is what the public school's primary mission is.

The Constitution of the United States as well as the Constitution of the State of New Jersey were founded on the principles of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." If an individual abuses his liberty, then let him and him alone answer for his transgression. It is the parents' and legal system's job to be involved in that.

Random drug testing aimed solely at students - more specifically, students who are wishing to participate in extra-curricular activities - without the same expectation of testing of their uninvolved peers, guiding mentors and others at higher levels of authority, really calls into question the constitutionality, validity, and community "buyin" for such testing.

Even the White House in Washington, D.C., issues a warning saying, in effect, "Be careful what you wish for." While the feds may pay for the actual lab testing at $25 to $50 a clip, they will not pay for counseling, therapy, rehabilitation or any other ancillary compensations.

Let us be the community, state and country that we so passionately yearn for; the least amount of intrusion into our personal lives; the even-handed action of the law and justice system; the right to be our own person and live our own life, even if that means some will act the fool. Truth will shine through, no matter what veil is placed in front of it.

In summary, I believe that there is sufficient policy to deal with inappropriate behavior regardless of what prompts it to surface. I believe that the parents are the ones who should be vigilant and responsible for their own children's safety and health. I believe that the school's job is to teach children the tools they need to make it through this life and not be so overly concerned with social engineering and onerous oversight of everyday personal matters unless those matters are brought to the school's attention by the student himself.

While this admonition may come a bit late, the Board of Education having approved the random drug testing policy at its June 18 meeting, there's still time to do a thorough "reality check" before wasting any more time and effort on this nonsense.

Walter Helfrecht

Upper Freehold