More and more schools are drug testing their student athletes, and I was just curious as to wether or not they also test extra-curricular activities such as band, forensics, etc. and if they don't what do you think about that?

I think that if they are going to test the athletes, then it wouldn't be right if they didn't test the other activities also. They compete too!

Im for testing! Anything to protect the health of the kids and to have an even playing field atleast from the point of performance echancing substnaces. I grew up with a couple of people who used, and in the long run they paid dearly for it.

I'm all for testing. Most schools are testing all students involved in extra-curricular activities. Some schools are even considering activities such as dances, clubs and proms as extracurricular, and if you don't sign the drug test paperwork with your enrollment form, you are not able to participate in any of those activities all school year. Also, to be legal, I believe that it has to be totally random. A specific student could theoretically be tested several times, while many never get tested.

That's how our school does it....and students really don't complain about having to be drug tested

So are they going to start doing that in all schools? I think its a positive move.

I think it is a joke and another example of schools trying to be parents. If a parent wants their kid tested, then go get him or her tested, but why does the school need to do this. Spend the money on education not on drug testing.

I'm certainly not for kids doing drugs, but I think the school testing them is a drastic overstep. In a time when we cut teachers and programs because we don't have enough money, we want to spend money on drug testing.

I realize this is a hard stand to take because it seems pro-drugs, but understand that this stand is not. I just do not think that if a student wants to do extra-curricular activities, schools have the right to make them submit to drug testing.

I agree that schools should have the right to search students' bags, lockers, cars, etc. for obvious safety reasons, but the drug testing thing to me is overboard.

I apologize in advance for being such a "flamming liberal."

Drug testing might possibly be the worst idea discussed on the forum. If you drug test in high schools, you're going to lose many very good athletes. There are tons of kids that wrestle and do other sports that are very successful doing these things. As long as the kids aren't wrestling with cocaine in their system it really isn't a big deal. Plus, most wrestlers don't want to smoke pot during season because of the munchies.

Drugs are bad, mmkay?

I understand where RJW is at with school spending and honestly I agree but I think testing is a very good idea. I think if the kid is going to be in extra activities then the parents should have to put up the expense of testing. Figure up the total cost of testing and divid it out per parent

mcjackson. For you to say that high school kids doing cocain is alright is insaine. I hope you didn't mean it like that. There are highschool and youth wrestlers that read these posts. For some of our youth wrestler who read this cocaine usage IS NOT OK. It is a drug that can, and has killed many people.

mcjackson. For you to say that high school kids doing cocain is alright is insaine. I hope you didn't mean it like that. There are highschool and youth wrestlers that read these posts. For some of our youth wrestler who read this cocaine usage IS NOT OK. It is a drug that can, and has killed many people.

I personaly am for random testing. What is more important? This nations youth staying off drugs, or extra-curricular activities. For me with 2 sons and 1 young daughter it is the first. I have talked to my kids more about not using drugs than I have about being a sucessfull athlete, and I have been the boys head wrestling coach for 6 years. Of course I know we can't keep every kid off of drugs. If we help, lets say 25 kids, stay away from drugs in high school how better off will those 25 kid be in life.

I don't think he meant that cocain isn't a big deal.

I meant that it is a big deal, but what good will come out of kids being tested? The kids that don't use won't be effected and the kids that do get caught will be kicked off the team and continue to use drugs. Too many kids out there make bad decisions with drugs but it isn't the high schools place to enforce the laws without cause. They have to assume that the kids are clean until they're caught by the real authorities, the police, not the fake authorities, the schools. Random drug testing is unfair because it isn't in the wrestler's best interest, and will only result in their dismissal from the team. Coaches need to be involved and try to find out who on their team is doing whatever and they should be the ones to enforce rules. If they have to resort to drug testing, not only will they lose many athletes, they will waste lots of money and time.

I think that the older guys on here who lived in the 60's and 70's should step up here and talk about this. There is no way they would have done drug testing back then because it's not a big deal, much like it ISN'T now. Come on hippies. I see you around Lawrence all the time. Speak up and tell everyone how drugs are a choice and if you chose to use them it is your own fault.