The worst part is that I know this guy, and helped campaign for him. Now he wants to treat me as a suspected drug user as a condition of my continued employment.

Pasadena state representative Ken Legler filed a bill on Feb. 2 that would require all current teachers, principals, counselors, school nurses and teacher's aids to submit to random, unannounced drug tests.

Additionally, any Texas public school teacher applicant would also be required to take a drug test during the hiring process.

Legler was inspired to file the bill, HB 975, after learning that drug testing was not required by state law.

Legler said feedback on the proposed bill has been largely positive from parents and former teachers -- though some teachers union officials are against the bill.

I can guess where Ken has come up with this idea. He has no doubt taken the much ballyhooed suspension of a number of HISD teachers after drug dogs hit on their cars and decided to call for drug testing. But they were a mere handful of the thousands of teachers and other district employees – under two dozen. A number of them were exonerated when they were able to prove that the drugs were prescribed to them or another user of the vehicle. It has all been a tempest in a teapot. I therefore don’t view this as a cost effective measure – just as I don’t view my district’s decision to test huge numbers of students in extracurricular activities for drug use to be worth the cost – especially since this legislation, like my district’s policy, doesn’t really spell out the consequences of failure in such a clear manner to facilitate consistent enforcement.

UPDATE: A quick note to folks from John's blog -- please note that nowhere do I mention any violation of constitutional rights. I've tried to comment to that effect at his blog, but he won't approve my comments. Is that a sign of cowardice or dishonesty? You decide.

Posted by: Greg at 06:19 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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