When former DPA intern Jessica Matuozzi learned from her younger brother that his high school --her former high school-- was considering a random student drug testing proposal, she didn't take the news sitting down. This busy NYU college student took the time away from writing midterms to collect materials and prep to speak at the Bernards Board of Education meeting back in her hometown in New Jersey. Her voice was especially important as New Jersey High School Principal Chris Steffner, who travels the country promoting student drug testing, came to her high school to try to persuade the board to move forward with testing.
I asked Jess if she could write up a blog post reflecting on the experience. Here is what she had to say:
Two weeks ago Chris Steffner came to my high school -- a public school in New Jersey -- to advocate for random student drug testing at my school's board meeting. I raced back to my home town to deliver the urgent message that random student drug testing is wrong for my high school, and it's wrong for young adults.
During the public comment period, I emphasized that my school is comprised of a small community of people in which, as is the case at many high schools, everybody knows everybody else's business. I cannot overestimate the degree of psychological trauma a student would face if labeled by his peers and his teachers as a "drug user," a "bad influence," or "one of the bad kids." You and I both know that if a teenager is repeatedly treated as a deviant, or someone who is not to be trusted, s/he will begin to act that way.
Research shows that students who participate in extracurricular activities are less likely to develop substance abuse problems. In addition, after-school programs offer students who are abusing drugs productive activities as well as contact with teachers, coaches, and peers, who can help them identify and address problematic drug use. Yet, random student drug testing relies on the punishment of removing students who test positive from these programs, giving them more time to engage in the very thing that random student drug testing seeks to prevent - more drug use.
I believe that there are more effective ways to keep teens out of trouble with drugs. We should continue to engage students in after-school programs that grow their self-esteem and keep them out of trouble. We should continue to cultivate trusting, respectful relationships among students and teachers - young people who enjoy the confidence of their parents and teachers, and who are expected to assume responsibility for their actions, and the most likely to act responsibly. We might also think about incorporating science-based drug education into the school curriculum that, instead of using ineffective and dishonest scare tactics, recognizes and seeks to address the reasons why young people might choose to use, or not use, drugs.
The public comment period went extremely well -- only two people testified in favor of random drug testing, and they weren't even residents of my town. Community parents were overwhelmingly opposed to random drug testing, and over twenty of them got up to say so. We await the board's decision in hopes that they will vote against random student drug testing, and for students' health, happiness, and constitutional right to privacy.
The really exciting news is that we just learned today that the Bernards Board of Education voted down the student drug testing proposal!! This is really something to be thankful for. We'll send more details next week.
Posted by Jennifer Kern