cannabisnews.com: ACLU Enters Lockney ISD Drug-Testing Controversy 





ACLU Enters Lockney ISD Drug-Testing Controversy 
Posted by FoM on February 25, 2000 at 16:11:14 PT
The school district won't back down
Source: Amarillo Globe
The Lockney Independent School District's policy of mandatory personnel and student drug testing has come under fire from the American Civil Liberties Union, while the school district maintains it has violated no rights.A letter dated Feb. 10 from ACLU attorney Michael Linz gave the school until Feb. 23 to rescind the policy or face legal action. An ACLU spokesman said the policy violates Fourth Amendment rights against illegal search and seizure.
"It (the policy) is saying that we have to give up freedoms to be safe," said Harvey Madison, spokesman for the Lubbock office of the ACLU. "The ACLU thinks that's a bad trade."The school district did not remove its policy by the deadline, and its lawyers and Linz are in discussion at the moment, LISD attorney Don Lenslee of Austin said Thursday. Lenslee said the school believes that it has violated no laws."They have a sensible policy," Lenslee said. "They spent a great deal of time on it, looking at what other school districts were doing and seeking appropriate legal advice."The school district started mandatory drug testing for all students and school personnel at the beginning of February. The policy was approved in November by school board members, who all took the drug test, Superintendent Raymond Lusk said.About 400 students provided urine samples to be tested at a lab in Lubbock, Lusk said. He said some samples tested positive, but he did not say how many.Only one student, sixth-grader Brady Tannahill, has yet to be tested because his father, Larry Tannahill, refuses to sign the consent form, citing privacy issues.According to school policy, not taking the test would equal a positive test result. Brady Tannahill could face in-school-suspension, be barred from extracurricular activities and be ordered to undergo drug counseling, Lusk said.He said in-school suspension is not a severe punishment."They no longer wear orange jump suits as reported," said Lusk, who would not comment on the ACLU case. "They don't go around picking up trash. They do supervised school work that is turned in to their regular teachers."While Larry Tannahill goes through a grievance process with the LISD, Brady Tannahill will not be punished, attorneys said. Larry Tannahill waits to be heard at a LISD school board meeting March 23, Madison said.According to Linz's letter, the policy would "severely punish and ruin the life of a twelve-year-old boy who has been nothing other than a model student."If the policy is not overturned, Lenslee said the ACLU hinted it will go to federal court. Madison said the case could go to the Supreme Court.The school district has no intention of backing down, Lenslee said."They feel confident that what they're doing is sound and legal," Lenslee said.LockneyPublished: Friday, February 25, 2000© 2000 Amarillo Globe-News Related Articles & Web Site:ACLUhttp://www.aclu.org/Drug Mistreatmenthttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4773.shtmlCOLUMN: School Drug Tests Violate Student Rights http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4775.shtmlACLU, Parents Challenge Drug-Testing Policy http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4049.shtmlCannabisNews Drug Testing Archives:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/drug_testing.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 08, 2000 at 19:07:13 PT
ACLU Files Lawsuit Against Lockney Schools 
Published: Wed, 08 Mar 2000Lubbock Avalanche-Journal http://www.lubbockonline.com/The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Lockney school district after the parents of a 12-year-old refused to allow their son to be subjected to a new mandatory drug testing policy, an ACLU spokesperson said Tuesday.The suit will ask the district to drop their policy, which requires all sixth-through 12th-graders to submit to a urine screening, the ACLU spokesperson said.Click the link to read the complete article.News Article Courtesy of MapInc.
ACLU Files Lawsuit Against Lockney Schools 
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Comment #2 posted by Liang on February 25, 2000 at 20:50:16 PT:
the Human Revolution
America is the last land for Human Revolution -- revolution for values of humanity.It started with Michaelangelo. It reformed the Catholic Church. Then came the French Revolution and founded modern decmocracy. That American Revolution 200 years ago was a boogey of big business and to gain control from previous masters. "To change masters is not to be free", says Jose Marti.The spirit of human revolution had swept the from Europe to the east to the whole Asia continent during this century, taking various forms than captitalist propaganda have always denied. Many who have been influenced still couldn't discern the truth.But the suppresion continues. Although material wealth can temporarily blind the truth, it will no longer. Do you feel people living abroad the shores are happier?The drug war will be the last stage of this revolution, finally happenning in the land of freedom. As the people finally wake up, we shall get rid of war and corruption and nuclear weapons once and for all.Peace be with you.
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Comment #1 posted by Scott on February 25, 2000 at 18:10:44 PT:
Denying the right to education
In the old days, the Germans denied Jews education just because they were Jewish. Didn't matter if they were hard working Jews, lazy Jews, happy Jews, sad Jews, friendly Jews, hostile Jews, smart Jews, or stupid Jews. They were just Jews and Jews were the scum of the Earth. In today's drug war, the American government tries to do the same thing to drug users. Doesn't matter if they're hard working drug users, lazy drug users, happy drug users, sad drug users, friendly drug users, hostile drug users, smart drug users, or stupid drug users. Drug users are drug users and they are the scum of the earth. The Nazi's claimed they weren't violating any rights, because hey, Jews are the scum of the earth. The school system denies violating any rights as well. Obviously, these teachers and directors who work for the school forgot all about the fourth and fifth amendment. But who cares? Drug users are drug users. Someone fails a drug test...suspend them. Someone gets arrested for possession...deny them college loans (Higher Education Act of 1998). Since drug users aren't humans, denying them these rights is excusable...right?America makes me sick. Hey Clinton and McCaffery... my body, my business, your body, your business. Why is that so hard for you guys to accept?Scott
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