Cleveland School to Drug Test Every Student...

[Jeff W.]

...With a twist.

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2014/04/29/president-of-drug-testing-company-is-brother-of-st-edward-high-school-president

 

[dsayers]

Stuff like this makes it hard for me to remember a time when I thought schooling and education were synonymous and wasn't convinced that government schooling is child abuse. Subjecting those who cannot refuse or fight back to something like this just to make a family member some money is completely wretched. Not to mention that focusing on drugs would be trying to manage the symptoms and not the problem. Which will never happen in school since they are part of the problem.

[Jeff W.]

Part of me is unsure how to feel about it. It's obviously wrong on some level, though they have a right since its a private school. Therefore, I think the bigger issue is that not even the small band of parents will band together to protest with their dollars. That's all it would take.

[dsayers]

I understand what you're saying. However, this begs the question. We cannot say that I have a right to punch you in the face or that to do so would be morally accpetable just because you could dodge if you don't wish to be punched in the face. We know whether or not punching you in the face is moral the same way we do every behavior, including administering drug tests: consent. In the infamous bar parking lot scene of Fight Club, the punch to the face was not immoral.

 

Perhaps we could have a side convo about schooling in general. Do you think that because parents pay a school money, this creates a positive obligation for the children, a non-consenting third party? We would never let this thought process fly in regards to adults. Then again, adults can fight back, which is one of the reasons why I find this story so wretched.

[Jeff W.]

That's definitely a conversation worth having. I was in the unfortunate position of going to a private Lutheran school from 2nd grade until H.S.  We were poor, but my grandparents paid for it, so I was in the increased unfortunate position of being the poor kid amongst all the rich kids, which is probably why I have a heightened sense of humor (I had to have something to offer.)  Anyways, my point I'm trying to get to is that Christian private school was horrendous--even more so than the public schools in our area.  It was a complete assault on every aspect of one's character, and that's why this story hit me.  The environment in one of these schools is already one of meatgrinding guilt and this just seems like a pile on.  Sorry, I'm a bit tired and jumble brained right now so my writing is as scattered as my thoughts.

 

I have to disagree with you on you second paragraph, though.  Adults have put up with this for about two decades now. You pretty much can't get a job anywhere without being subjected to a series of drug tests. You name it. Other than higher up white collar employment, you're almost garaunteed a drug test.  A job I held for nine years required random tests that added up to once every couple months. So yes, adults have been dealing with it.

[dsayers]

I don't follow your logic. Adults voluntarily submit to drug tests, so they have a right to inflict them onto unconsenting children involuntarily?

[Jeff W.]

You're correct in not following it. I've been a bit under the weather and missed this clear oversight. My point was...  Well, it doesn't matter because you corrected it.