Klarinet Archive - Posting 001015.txt from 2002/06

From: "Kevin Callahan" <kionon@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Music vs. drug testing
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 23:05:44 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Naden" <dnaden@-----.org>
Subject: RE: [kl] Music vs. drug testing

> First, my $0.02...

And mine. That makes $0.06.

> This is not a music-related topic, so I for one will respond only this
time.

Well, it can be made one.

> The Supreme Court ruled that schools may do random drug testing of the
> student body--not just athletes, choir students, band members--the entire
> student body.

Incorrect. The Supreme Court ruled that schools may do random drug testing
of students involved in extracurricular activities, such athletics, choir,
and band, since the latter two (at least in my experience) have after school
practices. Now, personally, I have no problem with marching band being
tested, I mean it's pretty athletically challenging (and I don't want to
hear anyone say otherwise :P). However, testing choir and ochestra/concert
band? Ok, fine, what's next the UIL Science and Math teams? National Art
Society? Contestants in the French Bowl? I accept any athletics testing for
one of its original goals - to find steroids. Still I find the idea of
testing members of a concert band or a choir going pretty far. It definately
pushes the envelope.

> The reason was along the lines that the health and welfare of the school
and
> student body as a whole outweighed the individual student's rights to
> privacy.

If it can be proven that one of the students is a dealer, than yes, perhaps
I could go with it, but that would have to be known (or highly suspected)
before the drug test is administered. Granted, I'm only two years from my
own high school graduation, so on issues like this, I'm still many times on
the side of the students. However, in two years I'll have my Secondary
Education degree with secondary teaching field in music. And, though I also
find myself some times falling on the side of the educational establishment,
I can't help worrying that this may seriously affect the decision of
students to enter the music field in Junior High or High School. Especially
those students who are a bit more mature than their peers and actually care
about the issues.

I got back into band in the 10th grade because some friends of mine begged
me to. Granted, I didn't even begin to imagine how seriously music would
affect my life. Because of this, I can probably say that I wouldn't have
joined had I known about the drug tests. I'm a very private individual, and
a very loud rights advocate. I can only assume that there are other students
out there that share my views and that this decision my very well dissuade
students from joining band, choir, or other arts programs. Not to mention
the outraged parents, they may not allow their children to join the
aforementioned programs. As a educator-in-training, I can't think of
anything that would bother me more than being unable to share my passion
with other young people.

Kevin Callahan
School of Music
SFASU

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