Joel Fouts
English 110
Argumentative Paper

Drug Testing in High Schools Random drug testing in high schools is a heated debate across the nation. Many high schools have brought a great deal of attention to the thought of implementing this idea into education. The biggest thought of all is how this topic got in the spotlight so quickly. Some may think that educators, administrators, coaches or school board members are out to get students and make sure they get caught. For those wondering, interests in student drug testing may be because kids today are using and abusing drugs more than they used too. Different viewpoints on this topic bring much debate on what the right thing to do is. Teachers, administrators, coaches, and school board members are mostly for the drug testing. On the other hand, students and some parents believe drug testing in high schools is not only a violation of a student’s right but also as an American citizen. I have many reasons as to why drug testing high school students not only violates an American citizen’s right but many other problems with this issue. An American citizen has many rights. A high school student has many rights as being a member of our nation’s society. Drug testing is a huge means of invading personal privacy. Implementing this topic into law is a violation of the fourth amendment in our constitution. The fourth amendment states ”The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” This amendment brings probable confrontation to education systems around the United States. The fourth amendment is supposed to protect student’s privacy yet some schools think random drug testing is not a violation of the student’s right. How is this reasonable? There is no consistency in this world today. Many law officials will try and say it is legal to drug test students and it does not violate the fourth amendment because it says “unreasonable searches.” Isn’t random considered unreasonable? Why is this validated? Teenagers are the most vulnerable class of human beings on this planet. They experience the most peer