Should teachers take drug tests?

Should teachers take drug tests?

www.chron.com

For many job applicants, whether the work involves driving trucks or answering phones, passing a drug test is a given.

That's not the case for Texas public school teachers.

The state does not require teachers to take drug tests before being hired, and local school districts aren't mandating the tests on their own.

Officials with several districts — including the Houston Independent School District, San Antonio ISD and Alief ISD — cited cost as one major reason they skip pre-employment drug screens for teachers.

But with the recent drug arrests of more than a dozen HISD employees, some advocates are calling on districts to revisit their hiring practices.

(visit the link for the full news article)


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Mod Edit: fixed link, put in content. Do not use a streaming flash video as a source.



[edit on 1/26/2009 by Badge01]

This just caught me off guard. It shocked the hell out of me to find out that our teachers weren't already subject to random drug test. Those that come to the defense of the teachers claim they shouldn't be forced to random drug test because it would also mean alcohol testing, and also, some teachers fear that if they are on certain prescription drugs, that would be revealed to their employers.
www.chron.com

(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 1/26/2009 by Badge01]

It seems fair. Students are subjected to random drug tests and there isn't a magic use drugs/don't use drug switched when someone graduates from school.

Any 'random' drug/alcohol testing for any type of work is a breach of privacy and an abuse of rights.

It shows that there is no trust from an employer extended to the employees.

On the other hand, if and when an employee is caught doing something naughty, then perhaps there's reasonable grounds to drug/alcohol test them.

Innocent people should never be exposed to random types of tests while they are at work. It's BS and it's designed to make us all feel guilty and apologetic.

[edit on 25-1-2009 by tezzajw]

That's kind of what I was thinking. These people are given the responsiblity to teach our children and in a way have a hand in raising them. It's as bad as not doing a background check for daycare workers.

reply to post by Chucktah


No. Not random drug tests. That's nothing more than intimidation. If a teacher has to take a drug test to get the job, that's one thing, but unless there is reason to suspect a teacher might be taking drugs, they should not be harassed.

The fact that students are exposed to random drug testing is no excuse. They shouldn't be intimidated, either. If there's a reason to suspect a student is taking drugs, then the parents should be contacted.

How dare the school think they can impose on people's life this way?

This is a slippery slope I've seen happening over the past years. I want the government OUT of my life, not imposing into it!

Look as far as drug-testing our teachers i think it would pose a really big problem for educators who do indulge in the casual joint, but do an INCREDIBLE job in class rooms engaging they're students every day.

For the prescription drugs, labs know which chemicals are part of scripts and which aren't, they just don't fire people for being on "drugs" in general only the kind that government "deems" illegal for use.

But yea, i know of alot of teachers who are coke heads and some other generally bad alcoholic teachers who would need to account for they're lack of professional responsibility if you will.

I do agree that random drug testing does impose, but at the same time, would you want someone who is responsible for teaching your children to be looking after them after a weekend coke binge? Or how about an alcoholic who has a short fuse? I'm not talking about high school teachers necessarily, but kindergarden and grade school teachers. We require cops, truck drivers, construction workers, and so on to submit to these test. Why not teachers?

Neither teachers nor students should be forced to take drug tests unless there is some suspicion of drug/alcohol activity taking place at the school. Then it becomes a safety issue for both students and teachers.

Otherwise - no drug testing for anyone.

When I was in junior high in the 80s we had several "campus advisors" and drug enforcement officers assigned to our school. The last day of school one of them got busted for ....pot possession. Right outside the front gate before first period. Taken in by ...four cops and one campus security guard. I'm still laughing at that 23 years later!

I have a friend who teaches in the Pasadena Indepedent School District here in Houston, TX who is drug tested regularly. It's nothing new here by any means.

reply to post by FlyersFan



So you're saying that until something bad happens at the school, precautionary measures shouldn't be taken. At a school?

Yes, teachers should be drug tested. Once a month should work out nicely.

Originally posted by Chucktah
I do agree that random drug testing does impose, but at the same time, would you want someone who is responsible for teaching your children to be looking after them after a weekend coke binge?

Frankly, I don't care what they do on the weekend as long as they perform their job well.

We require cops, truck drivers, construction workers, and so on to submit to these test. Why not teachers?

I'm against drug testing. Here's why:

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
...
Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

The US Constitution

For my part, I think that whatever you do on your own time and in your own home is pretty much your own business as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. However, in this instance, I'd have to make an exception, given the stakes of our childrens' educations. It seems perfectly reasonable to me to institute a mandatory drug testing system for teachers.

If I am subjected to a drug screen , then so should anyone else. I have nothing to hide therefore I am not mad.

On another note, are political figures subjected to drug screens?

Uhhh...perhaps people should be more worried about stupid teachers that really don't give a darn about educating the children, instead of worrying about a teacher that may take a couple of hits of pot on a saturday night.

It is about PERFORMANCE. And drug testing is NOT going to ensure better performance. If their part time casual use is NOT affecting their performance then it is simply a moral jugement.

What comes next? Tapping their internet usage to see if they watch porn because you don't think people that watch porn are suitable to teach children? Or tracking their speed on the highway in case they break the law with a lead foot? Or seeing what internet sites they visit to see if you approve of their offtime opinions? They may have politically incorrect thoughts or belong to whacky conspiracy forums. Should they still be allowed to teach your children?

It is about performance. It is about how they do their jobs. Unless they have a criminal history that makes them unsafe around kids worry about their teaching skills.

Public school students are subject to drug testing, random searches of lockers, dress codes. interviews by school counselors to find malcontents and cheaters.

That being the case both teachers and ADMINISTRATORS should be subject to the same scrutiny.
Same for cops, judges and security guards, that think they're cops. Alcohol is a drug. Fire all cronic drunks, plenty of kids are kicked out of school for under age drinking.

God, I hate preferential treatment of authority figures. If the rule makers aren't subject to the same rules; what's that tell you?






[edit on 25-1-2009 by whaaa]

NO ONE should be drug tested. If there is no sign of impairment in their work then there's no problem. If there is impairment then I don't care it is from drugs, alcohol, porn, or lack of sleep, the worker should be investigated to see how bad the problem with their work is and action taken.

To bring it back to teachers though, teachers should not be guaranteed jobs because of unions or anything else. If they are not performing their duties properly, they should go, just like anyone else in the workforce. But to drug test anyone is the ultimate invasion of privacy.

Teachers should start drug testing right after the US and all State senators & Congress start being randomly tested for alcohol & drug use.

It's always annoyed me that driving a truck requires me to be drug tested, but the idiots that run the company don't. Tell me they weren't in altered states when they offered $3 Billion for a company that's only worth $1 Billion.