Drugs and Books

I am very much opposed to the practice of random drug testing in both public or any school setting. I am a person who has been blessed with a wonderful family. In addition, I have been blessed with a wide variety of strong skills and talents. I have always believed that the Lord Jesus Christ has blessed my life far beyond anything one could ever imagine. My life is filled with many friends and loved ones as well.

I am a product of Montgomery County Public Schools. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is the third largest public school system in the United States. Although I have a physical disability, my disability does not impact me emotionally or cognitively at all. I am a college-educated, taxpaying, independent lady. My tax-dollars are paying the salaries of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools.

Children in our local school system come from a wide variety of backgrounds and places. Each child is unique and has different physical, psychological, educational and social needs.

As a matter of fact, the cold, damp and rainy weather conditions are a significant factor in determining whether I am or not I feel comfortable, even today as an adult. When I was in school, there where many cold and rainy days when I experienced a great deal of stiffness, pain and discomfort. On some days I would not have been able to sit in my wheelchair, if not for my being allowed to take medication in conjunction with physical therapy in an effort to more effectively manage my pain.

It is my view that no public school system in the United States has the right to implement a policy of random drug testing. To do so would be both a flagrant violation of HIPPA (Health Insurance Patient Privacy Act) and the privacy laws enacted to protect students and staff. Schools need to return to being places of safety and consideration. Only at such a time will students who are receiving a public education truly achieve their educational goals and enable future generations to learn effectively and be successful.

Although I am not a parent, I will be an aunt this coming March. If my niece or nephew is fearful of being randomly drug tested at school, this will have a terrible impact on their ability to learn. The primary role of the public school system is to educate the children. The role of public schools is not to belittle and hurt students and grossly invade their privacy through adopting a foolish policy of randomly testing them for drugs.