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New Jersey Town Could Drug Test Middle Schoolers
Filed under: In The News, Behavior: Tweens, Education: Tweens
Sixth, seventh and eighth graders could get randomly tested for drugs. Credit: CBS
On Wednesday, the Board of Education will vote on the proposed policy, under which sixth, seventh and eighth graders in Belvidere, N.J., would be subject to testing, CBS New York reports.
Oxford Elementary School Principal Sandra Szabocsik tells ParentDish she has gotten mostly positive feedback from the parents she's spoken to about the proposal.
"Belvidere is a small town and there's not a whole lot to do," Szabocsik tells ParentDish. "The younger kids tend to hang out with their older brothers and sisters. The hope is that knowing that they may be drug tested at school the next day will serve as a deterrent."
The American Civil Liberties Union disagrees.
"Random drug testing does not reduce drug use among young people," Jay Rorty, director of the ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project, tells ParentDish. "The high cost, high incidence of false positives and intrusive nature of the test make random testing a poor tool in the important work of drug education."
The drug test itself is a "five panel" test and officials are not allowed to say exactly what they are testing for. Szabocsik says she's unsure if alcohol is included, but says the district considers alcohol a drug.
Drug tests usually check for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines and PCP, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. However, "if a school has a particular problem with other drugs, such as MDMA, GHB or steroids, they can include testing for these drugs as well," the NIDA website states.
If a Belvidere student tests positive, he or she will be given in-school counseling, as well as a referral to an intervention if appropriate. Szabocisik says she's not sure what happens if a student refuses to get counseling.
To participate in the voluntary program, both parents and students must consent.
School officials note that kids who test positive will not be punished, nor will the police be notified. Rather, they would get counseling or be referred to a drug rehab center.
Drug testing is already mandatory for Belvidere High School students who park on campus, join clubs or participate in sports, CBS New York reports.
Schools have had greater freedom to conduct random drug testing since a 2002 Supreme Court ruling allowed random drug testing for all middle school and high school students participating in competitive extracurricular activities -- not just sports, which was the previous policy.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 7)
1-11-2011 @ 7:19PM
Jimmy said...You'de better believe middle schoolers do drugs.....they have just as much access to marijiuana, cocaine and speed than high schoolers. In fact, they might have even more access than high schoolers because they are more curious, I work with at risk youth, and I would say about 70% do drugs. At private schools, there is just as much access, why? RICH KIDS HAVE RICH PARENTS! I smoked my first joint when I was in 4th grade, and that was back in 1980. I went to a Catholic School my entire life. I snorted more coke during my middle-high school years than Scarface! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 3:38PM
Buzz said...The happiest day of my life was when my youngest graduated from High School. NO MORE SCHOOLS RUNNING MY LIFE! Http://www.sportsinfoguide.info Get your kids involved in sports - it's the best thing for them.
1-11-2011 @ 4:03PM
joshlsmith said...Stop lying. Nobody is going to pay more attention to you because of it.
1-11-2011 @ 6:05PM
sagecal said...It is only because your parents are neglectful type who will leave you alone as 4th grader. Not any other reason period.
1-11-2011 @ 7:08PM
WiseUpPeople! said...@ joshlsmith. You hit the nail on the head buddy. Couldnt have said it better. Do your research on line ppl. learn the facts about proper use of canibis. It could save you or your childs life one day.You're a bunch of sheep that lets the gov. dictate to you what you should be thinking, doing and believing. STOP and think for yourselves for a change. And if you suspect your child is using any harmful drug have them tested yourself. Do NOT by anymeans allow a school to govern your child for anything outside of their duties... Teaching. Dont give all your contol away. You will be sorry.
1-11-2011 @ 7:23PM
Holly said...I don't know where all these naive parents are coming from. Drugs have been a part of our culture since the late 70's. My son, who's in his 40's, had them floating around in school back then and wouldn't need the school to give his teenage daughter a drug test to know if she were on something. When he was in middle school, he told me about one of his female friends, who would take vodka to school in her lunch box thermos. I certainly could tell even back then when someone was on something and if a kid's acting odd and the teachers suspect drug use, they can always call the parents in for a conference to dicuss the possibility. This isn't the schools' business but the parents responsibility. The schools should spend taxpayer dollars on educating our children not drug testing and rehab. The schools always complain about not having enough money. I'd rather have money spent on more books for the school's library than trying to catch some moron's little delinquent getting high. If I lived in this school district, the next time they wanted to raise property taxes to fund the schools, I'd vote against it.
1-12-2011 @ 5:08PM
T. J.Dillon said...A Parichial sschool is not faail safe.
Are you a better father who talks the truth his kids or are you a second generation of "nisfit"; your choise
1-11-2011 @ 2:44PM
Concerned Mom said...It's about time. Wake up America and Parents, drugs are killing our children. Maybe the ACLU needs to look at the statistics of what Heroin is doing to our children. The media needs to make this public. I'm watching perfectly well raised kids, in good areas as well as bad overdosing at a very high rate. In stead of fighting against drug testing, maybe the ACLU should fight to rid the streets of these drugs and the dealers and help our children that are already addicted.
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 4:08PM
joshlsmith said...Concerned Mom or uninformed mom? Tylenol kills more people than marijuana, an illegal, schedule 1 drug... Probably because marijuana can't kill anybody. Where is the outrage there? We're taught socially to dislike some drugs and accept others regardless of facts because it's making the people in charge more money for you to think that way. Also, if you're middle schooler ever obtains heroine, that's bad parenting.
1-11-2011 @ 4:25PM
Simzee said...Face the truth folks.......The war on drugs does NOT work. Concerned Mom drinks LIQUID COURAGE (alcohol) We should'nt be listening to drunks anyway. ( or mayne she needs another one. lol)
1-11-2011 @ 4:53PM
Eddie Munster 2525 said...More government. Don't take responsibility yourself. You and people who think like you are the problem. Thats ok. When the stuff hits the fan the rest of us will be able to use your dead bodies for cover while we try to save what is left of America. Good luck!
1-11-2011 @ 6:56PM
jaguignon said...You're right to be concerned. To get rid of the crap that is on the streets right now might not be possible BUT, to teach our kids to not touch the stuff...now that is the real lesson learned! We have to teach our kids that "drugs are equivalent to rat poison", and will kill them as well. But of course that means that mom and dad have to stay absolutely clean too.
1-11-2011 @ 2:50PM
ryan said...Its all part of training your child at an early age that he or she is a prisoner and to submit samples of blood and urine to get a drivers license , a job , at a DUI checkpoint, the list goes on. Now thumb print for school lunch and this fence around the school is for your protection and if you draw a picture of a gun you will be arrested and if you get into a fight with another kid you start your criminal record with that fight. No band, no exercise , more Coke machines more snack machines, its ok if you can't read at 15. Drink plenty of fluoride you will be ok and here is a seasonal flu shot just in case. Oh mercury what? oh don't read the insert parents , trust this fact sheet we put out. We will teach your kids how to use and buy drugs , how to commit suicide with death education. We will then put them on prozac and riddlin because we have now taught them to be depressed. It will be so good , and sit back and wait for the prozac to take effect and rake in the school shootings. Im sure congress will make a new law to protect us all after this happens. Oh a school bully will get 10 years , thank you congress thank you.
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1-11-2011 @ 3:28PM
tigger said...While I don't like to think that children of this age are doing these things, the facts show they are...younger and younger all the time. While I am confident that my child is not doing this sort of thing, maybe random test could prevent them from ever trying. I've seen grown men stop when they knew a random drug test was possible. If you don't want to be drug tested just live off public assistance. They don't have to be drug free to get that check/food stamps every month while, my husband who works 40-60 hrs a week does. Fair is Fair as I see it.
1-11-2011 @ 4:45PM
Michael said...Dido, I couldn't add to that, very good and very right.
1-11-2011 @ 3:00PM
george said...absolutely no drug tests on students untill all politicians, teachers, principal , and all school staff are randomly tested on a regular basis
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 3:28PM
tigger said...And those on Public Assistance.
1-11-2011 @ 3:34PM
Frank said...I absolutely agree with you, only you should add parents to this list. If the parents are so concerned, they should also take drug tests, just to make sure the kids aren't learning such behavior at home!
1-11-2011 @ 3:46PM
tigger said...I agree. The parents who are against it are the ones we need to worry about. They are what they call "enablers". If you have nothing to hide why worry about it!
1-11-2011 @ 5:02PM
Linda said...All I can say is I have a daughter that is 41 years old now and SHE started using drugs in 5th grade way back then. I never did drugs, her She got started by being convinced through another student who was working for adult sellers. They got her hooked and then made her sell at school to get her own supply. Please allow your own child to be tested. It could save his/her life. I almost lost my daughter through that experience througha a suicide attempt. And believe me when I tell you that the drug world is connected with all kinds of filth such as porn, slave sex and many other horrible things.
Something wicked this way comes. Beware and be smart.