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DrugScreening.org


 

Hawaii Teachers Balk at Widespread Implementation of Drug Testing
August 8, 2008

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News Summary

Controversy has erupted over the Hawaii State Teachers Association's (HSTA's) apparent reluctance to subject its members to random drug testing from school districts, the Honolulu Advertiser reported Aug. 6.

A teachers' contract ratified in June 2007 had called for random drug testing of teachers, who also received pay raises as part of the agreement. But according to State Deputy Attorney General Jim Halvorson, the union is now saying that only teachers with commercial driver's licenses should be required to be tested.

"I think that you can see that this brand new position by the HSTA … does not pass the laugh test," Halvorson said at an Aug. 5 news conference. "Why would we have given significant pay raises to the teachers in order to obtain testing that we've been doing all along?"

Union officials have said they learned after the 2007 contract had been signed that the random testing requirements are unconstitutional. But state officials believe union leaders never intended to allow random testing of their members to be implemented.

Halvorson emphasized that in a recent issue of the union newsletter Teacher Advocate, in which the union seems to back the idea of testing based on reasonable suspicion, the organization likens a more widespread testing policy to internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.

The state last month filed a complaint against the union with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, and is seeking a declaratory ruling from the panel on the legality of a random testing program for teachers. 

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Jessica on 12 Aug 08 09:41 AM EDT
I do agree that it is not something that should reflect in their rate of pay, but it should be conducted as a measure of accountability and as a safety precaution. As a recent student myself, I know the detriment that comes from an influential teacher who condones the use of marijuana.

Posted by John from Oceanside on 11 Aug 08 01:17 PM EDT
I have always thought that drug testing teachers should be a priority. The saftey of our youth is just as important as truck driver being tested. I have worked in adolesent treatment and over and over I heard from clients how their teachers told them that marijuana was no big deal, it wasn't harmful, it's a medicine so it's got to be ok. One teacher effects thousands of young minds.

Posted by Harry Coverston on 11 Aug 08 08:41 AM EDT
1. Where is the probable cause of crime needed to gather evidence? 2. Ever heard of the presumption of innocence? 3. How shameful to manipulate teachers' raises with drug testing!

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