cannabisnews.com: Just Say Shame? Just Say Shame? Posted by FoM on March 02, 2001 at 07:11:02 PT Editorial Source: Christian Science Monitor Nathaniel Hawthorne would shudder. If high schoolers say no to a drug test in at least one school in Dutch Fork, S.C., they won't get gold stars on their sleeves as a sign of compliance. Indeed, this potential for public humiliation has been called a kind of reverse scarlet letter. For $10, parents can pay for a voluntary drug test, and students earn stars, in an attempt to put pride for being drug-free before punishment. That fits a growing trend toward voluntary drug testing. But this peer-pressure approach to reducing drug use in schools skirts only slightly around the usual Fourth Amendment constitutional question of "unreasonable search" when it comes to testing students for drugs. It doesn't do away with the notion that drug testing is invasive, both physically - and now mentally. Small wonder some students, who might object to even this voluntary drug test for sound legal and moral reasons, would have difficulty being presumed as drug users by their peers when, in fact, they're not. There are other ways to develop character and promote responsible behavior. That both parents and students say they like the idea is understandable. The environment where this experiment is being conducted is unique - it's largely upper-income, religious, conservative. Drug use, overall, is not as severe as in, for example, New York's inner city schools. Still, half of Dutch Fork high school students report smoking marijuana, and this experiment, while somewhat clever, is a small step in a direction away from mandatory drug testing of students. Drug use among teens remains a serious issue, but parents must not place the responsibility for drug-free kids at the front door of the school. Source: Christian Science Monitor (US)Published: March 2, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Christian Science Publishing Society.Address: One Norway Street, Boston, MA 02115Fax: (617) 450-2031Contact: oped csps.comWebsite: http://www.csmonitor.com/Forum: http://www.csmonitor.com/monitortalk/intro.htmlCannabisNews Drug Testing Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/drug_testing.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #23 posted by Helpful on March 04, 2001 at 06:50:12 PT Try this ... Dutch Fork High School website:http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us/dfhs/default.aspemail addresses:http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us/dfhs/teacherresources/temail.asp [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by observer on March 03, 2001 at 09:42:22 PT ''GOLD STAR . . . ''GOLD STAR MEDAL OF HERO OF THE SOVIET UNIONhttp://members.aol.com/sovietuk/gif/hero.gif (picture)http://www.google.com/search?q=soviet+star+medalDa comrade ... for proper obedience to State. GOLD STAR MEDAL OF HERO OF THE SOVIET UNION [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by dddd on March 03, 2001 at 01:28:43 PT more THE OJ TRIAL AS TOLD BY DR. SEUSI did not kill my lovely wife.I did not slash her with a knife.I did not bonk her on the head.I did not know that she was dead.I stayed at home that fateful night.I took a cab, then took a flight.The bag I had was just for me.My bag! My bag! Hey, leave it be.When I came home I had a gash.My hand was cut from broken glass.I cut my hand on broken glass.A broken glass did cause that gash.I have nothing, nothing to hide.My friend, he took me for a ride.Did you take this person's life?Did you do it with a knife?I did not do it with a knife.I did not, could not, kill my wife.I did not do this awful crime.I could not, would not, anytime.Did you hit her from above?Did you drop this bloody glove?I did not hit her from above.I cannot even wear that glove.I did not do it with a knife.I did not, could not, kill my wife.I did not do this awful crime.I could not, would not, anytime.And now I'm free, I can returnTo my house for which I yearn.And to my family whom I love.Hey now I'm free -- Give back my glove!!http://www.tfaoi.com/am/8am/8am203.jpghttp://www.tfaoi.com/am/8am/8am202.jpghttp://www.tfaoi.com/am/8am/8am205.jpg [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by dddd on March 03, 2001 at 01:13:58 PT Seuss? The Rat in the HatGreen weeds and shamThe Senator who stole Freedom [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Dan Hillman on March 02, 2001 at 21:32:49 PT Star-Bellied Sneetches. Can't believe I haven't seen a reference to the good Dr. Seuss in this thread. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by kaptinemo on March 02, 2001 at 19:40:02 PT: Mungo, they are not totally ignorant of history They just don't believe that history applies to them. So they don't feel compelled to learn from it. Typical American hubris; we're too smart to make the kind of mistakes that other peoples in other times and places have.While marching in lockstep towards the abyss of tyranny...and all for our own good. A path other nations have trod - which led to their destruction. Which led to their being included in history books. Which antis read and dismiss as irrelevent. Because they won't make the same mistakes.If 'ignorance is bliss', then antis have got to be hands-down the happiest people in the world. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by mungojelly on March 02, 2001 at 18:28:45 PT: my god Why did they choose stars? Can they truly be that ignorant of history? Why not happy faces or the words DRUG FREE or an american flag -- there are plenty of images they could desecrate. I am hard pressed to believe that such an obvious allusion to nazism was unintentional. To those who wish to subvert this system; please don't sell these children stars. Don't encourage even that degree of submission. Sell them patches in the shape of marijuana leaves; sell them patches that say "PROUDLY ANTI-FASCIST." [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by NiftySplifty on March 02, 2001 at 18:28:17 PT Those sneaky antis... This type of behavior, pretend to be rewarding people so we can invade their privacy reminds me of what was happening in Indianapolis during the time of the random road blocks which were found to be unconstitutional. What the police were doing was pulling over good drivers, and giving them coupons for free pizza. Needless to say, not one single person who got the free pizza was pleased, nay, they were all pissed. This was a somewhat obvious ploy to have reason to stop vehicles for no reason. That driver didn't speed, run a light, or anything. I think I'll pull him over! I'm sure we can all hear the officer saying, Here's your coupon for a free pizza. Do you have any guns or narcotics in the vehicle? So, you don't mind me searching, right? I'll bet the police are now saying, It's the M.O. of a drug trafficker to drive carefully, making sure they obey traffic laws, so we need some way of pulling over the good drivers. I got it! We'll give them stars to wear on their robes!Just a thought.Nifty... [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Lehder on March 02, 2001 at 15:06:29 PT more from "The Manufacture of Madness" Thank you shishaldin for your kind and interesting remarks.Here is another quote from the same book:I have argued that both the medieval witch and the modern mental patient are the scapegoats of society. By sacrificing some of its members, the community seeks to "purify" itself and thus maintain its integrity and survival. Implicit in this thesis is the premise that communities of men are often in need of venting their frustrations on scapegoats. What is the evidence for this assumption? And what social and psychological functions does the destruction of scapegoats fulfill? In this chapter, I shall offer some answers to these questions.–Chapter 14 The Expulsion of Evil.http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/Imgs/Jpg/Shishaldin/Mcgimsey_04231999_caption.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by craven on March 02, 2001 at 14:28:27 PT there is definately a problem here Dutch Fork is a fairly well to do kinda place, though i'm sure there HAS to be some lower income families. Generally speaking, families in the lower income bracket are mostly comprised of families of color... To put it bluntly, poor black kids whos mothers dont have ten bucks to spare are going around a generally wealthy white majority school, basically with "im a drug user" tattooed on their forehead. The ACLU and probably the NAACP should definately look into this one. Keep in mind how racial issues tend to get magnified here in the good 'ol south. I'm sure someone will say this is an attempt by the white majority to keep the black man down, and ideas such as this shouldnt even be considered. Though I only live in SC, and not actually FROM here, I hang my head in shame. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by observer on March 02, 2001 at 11:26:53 PT Junior Anti-Sex League If high schoolers say no to a drug test in at least one school in Dutch Fork, S.C., they won't get gold stars on their sleeves as a sign of compliance. She was a bold-looking girl, of about twenty- seven, with thick hair, a freckled face, and swift, athletic movements. A narrow scarlet sash, emblem of the Junior Anti-Sex League, was wound several times round the waist of her overalls . . . --1984, George Orwell [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by jushad2 on March 02, 2001 at 11:11:42 PT Bill of Rights Somewhere in the Bill of Rights I think I read something that said No individual will be compelled to join any organization or group . Does this ring a bell anyone? [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by shishaldin on March 02, 2001 at 11:07:52 PT Amen, Lehder! "Unfortunately, we have empowered leaders who admit to being impatient with recorded wisdom and history, who, evidently, feel that their strong character, moral rectitude, trim haircuts and proud ignorance are sufficient to rule. So long as we permit ignorance to predominate at the highest levels of power, we shall be governed by the unconscious primitive instincts an emotions that ruled the apes."Sad, but so true. We here in Amerikkka have lost our lessons of history along with our reason and have substituted them for bland, colorless names and dates (my son's history book is a great example of this) and emotionally charged rhetoric. Sadder still, we have not *demanded* better from those that lead us. peace and strength to all,shishaldin [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by meagain on March 02, 2001 at 11:04:23 PT History revisited Isn't this just like the jews having to wear the star of david The school officials that are allowing this are no better than freakin Hitler. This is sick. Does anyone got the phone number to the school I'll call em up and say so to their face. Kapt you sure hit the nail on the head with your comment. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by sm247 on March 02, 2001 at 10:58:58 PT Name change Duuuuuuuuude do ya got a few stars man . gotta get some of those pointy thingies mon for my girl n me to do b4 class.This all is a complete insult to the word Dutch GET A LIFE YOU ANTI-IGNORANT YAHOOZRENAME THE TOWN Duped Fork S.C.I agree with you Ethan Russo ACLU sIC EM !!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Lehder on March 02, 2001 at 09:35:30 PT Patriots in Action As a human being, however, man is a particular kind of animal: a social animal. As such, he is always the member of a group, never a solitary individual. The conditions of his membership in the group go far in defining the kind of person he becomes. To remain the member of a group, man must often attack and sacrifice nonmembers. Wars against external enemies have traditionally propelled individuals into playing this role, thus integrating them further into their own groups. In addition, man also converts members of own group into nonmembers, so that they many then be attacked and sacrificed. These are the wars on internal enemies which members of the group must wage or risk alienation. What purpose does such behavior serve, other than genuine self defense ( whose genuineness can, perhaps, rarely be reliably ascertained by individuals or groups who feel threatened)?The concept of aggression, innate and acquired, has been long popular as an explanation. But it explains nothing. An instinct of aggression explains war and persecution no better than a drive to power explains economic competition and political leadership. We need more specific, more functional, concepts to explain man's social behavior. The analysis here offered, emphasizing man's self-validations as good through his invalidation of his enemy as bad, points to what is perhaps a fresh clue to man's incredible destructiveness toward his fellow man....Typically, we confirm our loyalty to our group by asserting the disloyalty of others (in or outside the group) to it; we thus purchase membership in the community by excluding others from it. This appears to be one of the basic, invariant rules of social behavior. Because of this, the scapegoat is the indispensable of...societies.–Thomas Szasz The Manufacture of Madness Harper & Row 1970This book gives the detailed histories of several examples of oppressor-victim movements which we seldom discuss in this forum: witches, masturbatory insanity, madness. All these pathological movements consisted of the identification of ordinary people as undesirables and enemies, then their forcible "treatment" by kind-hearted experts. I recommend you read it yourself. Unfortunately, we have empowered leaders who admit to being impatient with recorded wisdom and history, who, evidently, feel that their strong character, moral rectitude, trim haircuts and proud ignorance are sufficient to rule. So long as we permit ignorance to predominate at the highest levels of power, we shall be governed by the unconscious primitive instincts an emotions that ruled the apes. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on March 02, 2001 at 09:21:49 PT Right kapt! kaptinemo that is exactly what I thought of when I saw this article. Exactly! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by aocp on March 02, 2001 at 08:52:59 PT: Right on, Expat Just as those who sell clean urine to those wishing to clear drug tests, some are going to just start selling stars to these kids. To be anti = loving quick, feelgood "solutions" ... the more repressive, the better. Typical puritanical BS. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on March 02, 2001 at 08:37:03 PT: ACLU in the Breach This is the kind of situation where the ACLU should jump in decrying the discrimination against those children of independent mind, or whose parents still believe in the Bill of Rights. I wonder what the incidence of alcoholism and incest are in this locality. Those might be too hard to curb, whereas the young child who will not toe the party line is an easy target in this divide and conquer prohibitionist scheme. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on March 02, 2001 at 08:31:46 PT: Achtung, Judenscheisse! Woh ist Ihr starren? (Attention, Jewish S**t! Where are your stars?) This is getting downright creepy.For those of you with short memories, The Nazis forced their victims to wear identification 'stars'. Different colors for different 'offenses'. Yellow stars for Jews.Now, here in the US, we are forcing children to show their support for the WoSD...by making them wear stars. And, in typical Kafka-esque fashion, instead of being forced to wear stars, those who are conscientous objectors to the WoSD...don't. And thus are marked fror ostracism...because they won't.My God, doesn't anyone but old f**ks like me remember any history? And this is happening in a school for Pete's sake! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by zenarch on March 02, 2001 at 07:55:27 PT where I live . . . . all the drug dealers proudly display D.A.R.E. stickers on their cars. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on March 02, 2001 at 07:29:05 PT The Star-Bellied Sneeches I was just thinking that the stars will be very popular in the school's underground. Some enterprising soul will no doubt start selling stars dipped in LSD... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Expat on March 02, 2001 at 07:26:12 PT: I see a new market I volunteer to hang out in the street (don't wanna get get busted for trespassing ya know) and sell stars to the kids. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: