By Andie Bernhardt, Staff Writer
In a recent study reported by CBS News, 81 percent of teens have claimed that they have had the opportunity to try an illicit substance, while 42.5 percent said they actually used the substance.
The stunning numbers are opening eyes across the United States and may spur action in Wisconsin. A state lawmaker has proposed new legislation that could subject Wisconsin students that participate in school sports or extracurricular activities to random drug testing.
The bill has prompted questions from school officials and teens.
”It’s going to be very difficult to do because it’s so expensive,” said Eric Corbett, Indian Trail High School & Academy dean of students and athletic director, when asked about its feasibility.
The real question is how this legislation will affect the student body.
“Would drug testing students cut down on the number of kids thinking about trying drugs? Would some kids not even go out for a sport for fear of having to take the test?” Corbett asked.
Part of the proposed legislation calls for random drug testing of students planning to park their vehicles on school grounds.
“I do think it’s fair,” said Jonathan Quinn, an IT senior who runs track and plays volleyball. “It’s sad they have to do this in the first place.”
Rep. Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc, has stated that when Wisconsin lawmakers meet again next year, he will introduce the bill that requires public and private schools to have policies requiring students that participate in voluntary activities to be submitted to random drug testing.
“Ultimately, the intentions are to make sure kids are staying away from that stuff and not getting involved in it,” said Corbett, who remained neutral on whether he supported the bill.
““Ultimately, the intentions are to make sure kids are staying away from that stuff and not getting
involved in it.”
— Eric Corbett, Indian Trail athletic director
The proposed legislation is just one of many bills that are anticipated to be coming from the diverse group that Kleefisch has put together in order to take initiative and put a stop to drug use.
The Fourth Amendment plays a huge roll in this bill, but the Supreme Court did rule in 2002 that randomly drug testing students who participate in voluntary activities is legal and does not violate rights of the Fourth Amendment.
Two questions remain unanswered in this legislation: How will the state pay for it? And what punishments would be inflicted upon teens who test positive? Kleefisch claims he would draft the bill in a way that would not affect teens’ education significantly.
Some students are skeptical whether the drug testing requirement would be worthwhile.
“I feel like it’s going to be a waste of time, because the people that play sports are more likely not to use drugs in high school,” said Daviyon Nixon, a general studies senior who participates in football and basketball.
“They should not spend their money on this. If they want to spend their money they should spend it on something more useful, on something that unites the school rather than drug testing,” said Xavier Parker, a Med-Sci Academy senior.