Disagrees with TIMES NEWS opinion

Dear Ron Gower,

I read your opinions all the time in The Times News, and enjoy almost all. Your last one on Drug Testing at Panther Valley School was a little dissapointing.

I know it's your opinion and you are entitled to it, so maybe I have no place in saying anything. But since it's in the paper for everybody to read, maybe some opinions from us could shed light on things you may not have thought of.

First, for a school to have mandatory drug testing for sports or other activities is flat out ridiculous. That means everybody is presumed guilty until proven innocent.

That would be like a police officer pulling over anybody he is behind because they might be drunk driving. And needing proof that they are not before they can resume driving.

Second, and I'm not sure of the statistics, don't athletic students, and those involved in other activities like drama club or chess club, usually think higher of themselves and their mind and body that there is a good chance they wouldn't do drugs? How many football players are staggering on the field during a game?

I'm not saying that there is no chance of this happening, but less likely than the guy or girl that keeps to themself and does look for a way to mask the pain of adolescence.

As far as getting them ready for employment later in life, that is a company protecting their assets to lawsuits from people that get hurt from employees that are not of sound mind at work.

The employee also has the choice to go to a different job or start thier own business and not be subject to the testing. But then they are responsible for their actions and will pay for them if they mess up.

A student doesn't have the oppertunity to go to a school that doesn't do random testing.

Third, your comment about screening at airports, way out in left field. How many people will one kid doing drugs kill? Or do they now have access to nukes? Not that a drug user can't hurt other people, but to compare it to a terrorist is far fetched.

I'm pretty sure that more people are killed or hurt by drunk drivers than kids doing drugs, but I don't see people outraged that every driver doesn't have a breathalyzer installed in their car to start it.

Drugs are a problem in our area and everywhere, but assumimg that all kids are drug users and need to be checked is like saying all black people are criminals because there are some in jail. Try writing that in an opinion and see how many people write to you then.

The school's job is to educate our children. Including information on not using drugs and the horrible side effects or consequences. It's not the schools job to hold their hand and lead them through what they think is best for each of them. That's the parents job.

We all make mistakes in life. Some learn from them and others don't. But it's not the schools job to make sure everybody can't make a mistake.

I'm not saying the school can't be active with the police in that they should report anyone suspected of using drugs and acting in a manner that would indicate a probability of drug use.

Just like an average citizen would report suspicious activity and the police do their job from there. In conclusion, we are still governed by laws. And if I remember correctly, someone is innocent until proven guilty. Thanks for reading my opinion.

Will Rodgers

Jim Thorpe