Ld Debate Case On High School Drug Testing

“The only way to have a drug free school is to follow the successful program

of the military and workplace”. This is stated by Rep. John E. Peterson in 2005.

In today’s volatile times, drug use is becoming more casual in high schools

around the country. Many schools are having to face this struggle against drug

use. Thus, I affirm that Resolved: Drug testing of high school

extracurricular activity participants is justified.

To aid clarification in this round, I now present the following definitions as

defined by the Webster Dictionary in 2005:

Extracurricular activity: not following or related to the curriculum; outside of

one’s duties.

Drug: a non-prescribed, illegal chemical substance that affects the central

nervous system causing changes in behavior and strong dependency; addiction.

Consistent: holding true as a group, not contradictory.

Justice: The principal of moral rightness, fairness. The upolding of fair treatment,

honor, standards, or law.

My value will be safety. Safety can be defined as freedom from danger, risk or

injury. Therefore, my criterion will be compliance of participants. Students joining these

activities must fulfill certain responsibilities to themselves and their fellow teammates.

Only with this compliance ensured, can safety of the student be upheld.

Contention One:

Drug testing of participants is relevant to the lowering of crime rates, and prevents

threats against the safety of their fellow students.

As stated in Wikipedia in 2005; One high school in Oceanside, California, conducted a

study in 1997 in which they started drug testing extracurricular participants before joining

the activities. Positive outcomes occurred in the school’s programs. The study showed

that drug influenced violence rates among participants were lowered considerably. From

around 42 % to 27 %. More people are likely to join an activity if

they know that they will be safe, and free of risk. As Congress proposed in 1999,

plans to regulate drug testing of high school students across the country could

promote the school district, and encourage students to stay involved with more

extracurricular programs. Research of drugs, and their side effects has shown that one’s

normal behavior pattern changes considerably, because of the chemical alteration of the

brain. Under the influence, the temper is shortened and a person will find themselves

quickly angered, with no later recollection of the upset. In this altered state, other

students are faced with the threat of being physically harmed. The fact that drugs carry a

high risk of dependency would place other students in danger when in the proximity of a

drug-addicted student. Drug testing prevents this possible situation of harm beforehand

by not admitting that student into the activity, allowing the others to remain safe.

Contention Two:

Cooperation of students during drug testing is vital to the upholding of

safety in extracurricular programs.

Some students refuse to comply with drug testing before entering an activity

because they feel that their privacy is being violated, or they express that

information on their personal habits should be kept between themselves and

their parents. A participant who has nothing to hide should realize that they are

safer, and less likely to be drawn into an act unwillingly if all possible participants

are tested. I stress the fact that students are previously notified of

the requirements for joining that activity. In an article [by Anita Baker;