EDITORIAL

Recently our neighbor school district, Pleasant Grove, added a random drug testing policy in order to separate the amount of students who use illegal substances. With this concept revolutionizing PG’s school district, some wonder if TISD should also react to recent drug abuse scandals in order to adapt and quarantine.

Even with the recent “malleable” controversies with our inalienable rights, the wise choice is for the district to change regulations. The current system is not structured well enough to create a definite halt in drug usage. With a new rule enforcing testing within TISD, it would ensure the well being of the student body.

The current enrollment of Texas High is 1,826 students, many of these are young frothing teenagers who think school is a burden. The fact is, to receive schooling and to be apart of extracurriculars are privileges. Since the school system is not a parent but a leader, they should be able to handle situations that involve illegal substances more drastically. By doing this the legality of the students and TISD would be less questionable and more stable.

Many are familiar with Texas High School’s crowning achievements in sports and other activities. The district takes pride in the fact that victories are won with honesty and hard work. At the end of the day, a more rigorous narcotic testing implementation would only polish the gold trophies won by the talented athletes that the district has. Since truly winning is only accomplished by natural work, the victories should taste even sweeter knowing that the athletes conquered because they were the best.

“The purposes of the drug-testing program are to prevent injury, illness, and harm resulting from the use of illegal and performance-enhancing drugs or alcohol,” according to Pleasant Grove’s website. “The District requires drug testing of any student in grades 7-12 who chooses to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities or requests a permit to park a vehicle on school property.”

For the first offense, Pleasant Grove will allow one warning. The second offense will be suspension from extracurriculars and parking permit for 21 days. The third offense will respond with 365 days of extracurricular and parking permit suspension. Parents will be notified for both second and third offenses.

It is true that arguments can be held suggesting that the school is infringing upon the rights of the intellectuals. Though the testing is blunt, they are not doing it for fun, but for the sake of the students. The district should be respected in its wishes to go forth in new regulations because it is expected to protect the lawfulness of students and the virtue of the institution.

To satisfy all parties, an ordinance should be made to test for narcotics upon extracurricular activities. It will exemplify the merit of Texas High School and the kids. Sports and other activities are privileges– privileges that are abused, but need to be rewarded.