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Show 4 Saturday, August 31, 1996 Lakeside Review FORU tHHT Street Talk... What residents of Davis County think about the issues What about testing students for drug use at school? a testing policy The Davis School District is considering drug that would be used as a pilot program at Mountain High. School, the county's alternative high school. Some Davis school officials think drug tests will create a safe environment and keep, students in school. Others think it might cause them to drop out' of school. The policy wouldnt allow random drug testing, but testing would be done only when drug use is suspected, such as a student exhibiting signs of drug abuse in his or her actions, grades, attendance, dress including wearing a pager or shirts advertising alcohol, etc. The Lakeside Review randomly interviewed students to get their feelings on the proposal. Letroy Deshawn Woods . Mountain High I dont know if it would help with the . safety, but I dont think the people with prob-lems would like it if they did drug testing.-Thewill still come but might feel a little bit. more uncomfortable about being around.' They would be a little bit more cautious I guess. I dont think it would help with their education if they did drug testing, because they; will do it anyway, even if they got tested or not. I dont think most of the kids here think they have a problem with it I dont think it will help with safety or academics. Jeremy Larsen Mountain High PTA works on kids behalf By UNDA M. PARKINSON Utah PTA president and LeeAnn Hansen show from their comments in the Lakeside Review Aug. 17, that they do not understand the National PTA. The National PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer association in the United States working exclusively on behalf of children and youth. For 100 years, the National PTA has promoted the education, health, and safety of children and David families. At the founding meeting of the National PTA, it was determined by the members present that the greatest work of the organization is to save the children. The National PTA and 53 congresses of which Utah is a part, continue today to speak out on issues affecting the education, safety, and welfare of all children. Here are the facts: PTA does not contribute Sll million to NEA The Hansens imply that the National PTA and the National Education Association (NEA) are similar types of organizations. Kathryn Whitfill, National PTA president, addressed that similar issue in March, 1995: The fact is that the NEA is a union, designed to work on behalf of the economic of its members, whereas the National PTA is a grassroots, volunteer, private, nonprofit organization with an annual budget of less than $6 million. Our 6.7 million members work on behalf of the interest of all children on issues that affect their health, education and 1993-199- 5, st welfare. Any position or resolution taken by the National PTA must be voted on by a majority of the board. Therefore, it would be nearly im- possible for the NEA or other teachers' unions to affect the outcome of the vote. Each state congress president represents their state on the National PTA board of directors and has a vote on positions taken. At the National PTA conven- - GUEST COLUMN tion state voting delegates, which are determined by the state membership, represent the state members and vote on resolutions which direct the organization in their lobbying efforts. No state is compelled to adopt, in part or in entirety, any national position statement or resolution. Each state is autonomous and brings issues adopted by National PTA to its annual convention for vote on adoption. We do partnership with the NEA nationally, and UEA statewide when it is of mutual benefit to the children. This year, as part of the UEA Convention on Sept. 26, parents have been invited to participate with teachers to discuss and formulate plans to combat violence in the schools. Teachers and parents need to partner in order to make needed changes for children. In fact, the entire community needs to be part of the process as well. PTA supports public education Since its beginning in 1897, the National PTA has supported public education, in the belief that it is vital to providing ALL children with the opportunities they need to realize their potential to the fullest. Further, the PTA believes that public education is the cornerstone of American democracy. PTA opposes the use of public education funding for vouchers or tax credits in any form including charter schools which divert money from public schools. PTA supports increased levels of health services to children The National PTA does not endorse all of the controversial statements made by Dr. Elders. PTA support is based solely on her efforts to increase the level of health services going to children and families. PTA supports principles of character integrated in curriculum In 1992, a resolution was adopted by the Utah PTA membership relating to character education. It encroached upon by any governencouraged schools and parents to mental action. This protection was work together to formulate policies extended to the laws of the states by regarding character education. The the Fourteenth Amendment. Utah PTA has been involved with The decisions of the Supreme the State Office of Education in deCourt did not deny religion, did not veloping curriculum that would indeny the need for religious and spirtegrate basic principles of character itual education, or the necessity and honsuch as integrity, development efficacy of prayer; rather, the opinesty, respect, etc. into the classion of the court declared the tradiroom. tion of reliance on the home, the In response to another resolution church, and the inviolable citadel of passed last year by the delegate the individual heart and mind." body, PTA and the State Office of After the decisions school auEducation have collaborated on a Life Skills curriculum document thorities across the nation adjusted that is now being implemented in their procedures to accord with his the schools. Skills such as lifelong new statement of law. Conforming PTA polilearning, complex thinking, effective with the cy of cooperation with schools, communication, collaboration, responsible citizenship, and employ-abilit- y PTAs should avoid bringing presare all qualities important to sure to continue any practices that the success of students in and out of the constituted authorities find unschool. Character development lawful. should be a shared responsibility of Remembering that responsibilifamilies, schools, and communities. ty in these matters belongs with home and church, thoughtful PTA Recognizing the diversity of beliefs and religious denominations members will also take new resolution for the moral and spiritual eduamong our nation's families, the recation of their children and youth, sponsibility for the moral and spiritual education of their children and noting that not religious exercises youth must rest with the home and alone but careful percept and examfamily. PTA believes that it is the ple must achieve the spiritual responsibility of the family to disstrength and moral growth we seek cuss with their children the values for our young people. they embrace and to be an example This is the position statement of to them. the National PTA in 1993. decisiond PTA supports -making Todays PTA is shedding the old, mistaken image of a cookie-bakinThe single most important reag womens group. PTA son to have a site council is to improve student learning and its vital has become known for its important that parents be included as part of and innovative work on behalf of children, as well as for its increasthe council. ingly diverse membership. Fathers, Site councils give parents an opportunity to become involved in the grandparents, students, community, decisions that affect their children at business, adults without children all are taking an active role in chilthe school level. dren's issues. PTA supports the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution I Would invite you, David and The Congress shall make no LeeAnn Hansen, and anyone else law requesting the establishment of who would like to be a part of an religion or prohibiting the free exerorganization whose sole purpose it cise thereof. - First Amendment. is to make a difference for children, In the First Amendment to the to join 7 million members nationConstitution our Founders estabwide, and 150,000 statewide in raislished the basic principle that the ing your voice so that childrens infree exercise of religion is not to be terests can be served.- I site-base- g, fund-raisin- Experience shows PTA worthy organization Time spent on clown story appreciated I would like to provide an alternative view of the PTA to that provided by David and LeeAnn Han- I wanted to write and thank you for taking so much time and effort on my behalf. The article on Fifi" was very much appreciated. I want you to know it was my side Review. Let me say at the outset that I have worked with the PTA for most of the 25 years I have been involved with public education. Most of my experience has been at the local and state level. I have found PTA leaders to be exemplary citizens who give selflessly of their time and energy for the safety and welfare of students. At the State Legislature an active PTA delegation advocates a wide range of issues from safe sidewalks to individualized education plans. Consistently, their voice is to support children, to provide for their education, and to improve their lives both at home and at school. In thev Davis School District alone PTA members volunteer more than 260,000 hours of their I . ds it. Donavan Davis Welch Mountain High I think the question shouldnt be whether or not the person exhibits problems of drug, use, because lots of people can exhibit prob-- ; lems of drug use and its not necessarily ille-- '. gal drugs, it could be alcohol, smoking or pre- scription drugs. I think it should be whether or not they are having social problems whether or not they are having a problem coping with school, coping with life - maybe they should takes steps to help them with that. I think drug test- ing for a job, if its required, thats their right if they want to see' if somebody has a problem with drugs because drugs can cause problems in a work environment. Some people dont think they can have the ability to trust somebody if theyre a drug user,-- ' thats their prerogative. In a school environment you have a lot of teenagers who are trying to experiment with life, they are just coming into their, own, and if they do happen to tiy drugs whats to say that they have a problem with it. If they do have problems with it then they should have help' and if a counselor thinks they have a problem with it and needs help, then by all means test them and try to get them help. But to random drug test - no. I think this school has the least amount of problems with, any kind of social activity or anything. Here at the school, its pretty much open. The students are open with the teachers, and' the faculty is with the students. They tell them we dont like (drugs) around here and we dont want it here. We have a pret- ty good rapport with the faculty and students together. Brianne Nacario Mountain High LETTERS TO THE EDITOR sen of Kaysville published in the August 17, 1996 issue of the Lake- I think drug testing in school would cause, more problems than it would good. I dont think it would help the students who come here. They come here from a regular high school to get an education because they can learn easier here. Drug testing is more irrelevant toward education because if you are doing drug testing and kicking kids out for drugs, where do these people go? They come here to get their stuff together and. to try and finish high school, but if you are bringing in other problems for them and bringing in more obstacles for them I think its just going to scare a lot of people away. I think you are going to have a lot of people just drop out and say Im done with school. Im not going to deal with it. I think if you just let things go as they are and do other things besides kug testing, I think they will have a better impact on the educational program. Signs of using drugs are pretty obvious. Whether people' want to believe it or not, teenagers these days do a lot of drugs. Two-thirof the kids that go to school do drugs or have done' drugs, so if youre suspecting someone for it, who do you suspect? Where do you draw the line in saying who does it and who doesnt? People will say I dont like that kid and I know he does drugs therefore Im going to make him test. It may not be; out in the open, but it will happen, there is going to be preju- - ; dices going on. Thats one more problem, one more prejudice.; they have to add to the school. And I think we can do without own time to activities and programs that without their help could not be conducted. In addition to sponsoring the Reflections contests, and assisting with such programs as the history and science fairs, music festivals, drug and alcohol prevention programs, PTA members plan an integral role in designing safe walking routes to and from school, establishing new school boundaries, and in screening and implementing new textbooks and other learning materials. As individual volunteers and as an organization, the PTA is a valued and appreciated part of the school community. Their history of advocacy for children and families speaks for itself. The PTA deserves better treatment than the heresy, innuendo, and ad hominem attacks contained in the Hansens letter. Richard E. Kendell Superintendent of Schools Davis School District pleasure to work with your staff. They were wonderful and put me at ease. Thank you. Gayle Hosier Fifi the Magic Clown Charity Nance Government Directory Commissioner Gayle Stevenson Clearfield City Council Davis County Courthouse 28 E. State Farmington, Utah 84025 0 Office Commissioner Dannie McConkie Mayor Neldon Hamblin 9 Home E. Gene Fessler (R) 451-320- 825-583- Home (R) Davis County Courthouse 28 E. State Farmington, Utah 84025 0 Office Commissioner Carol R. Page (R) Davis County Courthouse 28 E. State Farmington, Utah 84025 0 Office 451-320- 451-320- What would they do to help them? It might help with the safety, but there are a lot of kids that do it Some people might come to school and they dont look like they are on it or some kids might come to school and they might look high or whatever and they drug test them and they are clean. I dont like it, I wouldnt want to get drug tested. Sometimes kids can look like they are on drugs and they arent, like when youre really tired and your eyes are all red. 825-556- 4 Diane Layton 5 Home Martin Eliason 9 Home Curtis Oda 825-784- 773-619- 6 Home Garr L. Roundy 773-979- Home 773-563- 9 Mountain High I feel that smoking is a bigger problem here at Mountain High but drugs tests would do some people some good. In a way it would be all right, because then people would stop coming to school high and they would be able to concentrate on their education if people werent coming to classes to get people to go and get high out in the parking lot or anything. Another way it would just make the students go and buy some Visine and act sober around the teachers so they wouldnt get a drug test. But I know there are people who come here and have been accused of being high that arent high, just look high. I think-- ; thats violating their privacy if you give somebody a drug tesC and they come up negative then they can file a lawsuit. ; . . . |