What do you think about drug testing in school?

Question

Here's something to think about: Under the Human Rights Act 1998, schools do not have the power to force children to take a drugs test, the police only have the legal rights to demand a test. However, in 2004, Tony Blair gave his backing fro randon drug testing in schools. The DfES published a guidance paper later that year, that urged schools to be cautious but supported the principle of testing.

What is your opinion?

Amazing opinions people! Keep it coming, i wanna know what EVERYONE thinks! Thanks :)

Answer 1

Test them...........let the parents be the ones to give permission,if the are not using drugs they have nothing to worry about..If they are then they need help to stop.Drugs will be the downfall of this generation.

Answer 2

I totally agree with it...

Having four young kids (aged between 6 & 12) I would have no problems what so ever with them being tested at school for drugs.


How about drugs and excessive alcohol testing in the house of commons...

Drugs might be illegal yes I agree but Alcohol isnt, anyone in the house of commons is old enough to drink.
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If you were to force kids to have a drug test then they would simply not turn up at school creating further problems...

At least the the kids that want to get an education will as teachers wont have to run round the school, patroling toilets at lunch and break times because of the the ones that want to waste their life on drugs and booze.
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I don't know about for minors but I am so totally for random testing for teachers. This I am sure will make people mad.

Yup thats a good idea too, you never no these days who's a 'crackhead'
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I also think teachers should be allowed to random check kids lockers and bags for weapons etc, people harp on about 'whats the world coming too' well what the bloody hell do you expect when there are so many rules and legislation for not doing this and that,
for godsake a nit nurse cant even check a kids head at school thesedays as it's classed as 'child abuse'..What is the world coming too?!!!!!

Answer 3

I think it's a really good idea that way they can take that child out of school and get them help with their drug taking before it's too late. I think parents would rather know that they're child is taking drugs when they are in school when it is still possible to get them throught the problem and get them help. Proffessionals can come in and explain what they are doing to themselves and what will happen and then hopefully this will make them see it is not a good thing. Look at all the people on the streets or going out and getting drugged up to their eyeballs, next thing you know they're dead! Let's stop it now before any more people get hurt. Getting them into it when they're young will help them see sense.

Answer 4

Yeah on one condition,...

No Random Testing...

EVERY headteacher, teacher, govenor, parent, student, and MP also takes said teart with a lie detector to see what they did when they were the same age as the kids...


Plus kids don't get expelled..


This should show that nearly all the parents and oldies were just as bad as when they were that age.

No hypocracy allowed...

Plus they must be all tested for alcohol use which is also a drug, one that is harmful, additive and those on it pose a danger to others.


Problem with the testing is its unfair when random as you get the kid who tried one joint not the crack heads...



Plus like sensible drinking there is sensible use of other drugs ie only on a night out on the weekend but sober in school.


Plu several drugs culutres are superior to the standard get drunk on the weekend culutre such as the rave or hippy one where people learned to be creative free thinkers and look after others.


As opposed to getting agro, obnoxious, drink driving, vometiing, bottle fights, vandalisim and addiction to alcohol, not to mention the battered wives and kids

Answer 5

I think drug testing kids in school is sick, sick, sick! In America, you have to test clean at some schools to even participate in extracurricular activities--I mean, come on! Drug testing for Poetry Club? Where does it stop? It's so Gestapo--and all probably because the generation that grew up in the 60's and the 70's did so many drugs at school. (They really did. I've heard firsthand accounts.) Testing students en masse, or even randomly, is not going to stop drug use by students, on campus or off. It'll just drive student drug use further underground, and leave kids searching for substances that cannot be detected by these tests. Let's hope they don't start sniffing glue en masse, because that's infinitely worse than smoking a little pot.

Answer 6

I think it's a bad thing.

I mean, if they kids start being tested & have to stop buying & taking drugs, how are the teachers going to suppliment their dwindling incomes?

*THINKS: this may force young, student teachers into a life of prostitution*

...yes, I'm all for it, anything that cleans up the schools has to be a good thing, doesn't it?

Answer 7

Look at what happened when they were going to do drug testing on the police. They were most upset.
If they are going to do these tests in schools, the same tests should be done on every public service.

Answer 8

It could find out drug users before they become drug abusers. Is this for public schools, private schools, or all of them? Here, in America, they have metal detectors in many school entrances now because of the rash of school shootings in the last decade. Isn't that also intrusive? Or is it a preventive measure to save lives?

Answer 9

i think it should go ahead including the staff look at the amount of times you see in the paper about kids being caught with drugs on them. work places should do it to i know some folk who have had it done at there work if people have a problem about taken 1 it just seems like they have something to hide whether they do or don't

Answer 10

While i am not saying that Drug testing is wrong, I don't see how it could work. If you were to force kids to have a drug test then they would simply not turn up at school creating further problems. At least if they are in school they can be watched.

Answer 11

That shite human rights loophole again. Scrap that human rights crap as it has more bad things about it than good. This example is one of the many bad things about it as all schools should be allowed to do drugs tests. In fact it should be compulsary for all schools especially the ones that are in rough areas to do them.