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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Teachers rebuff random tests for drugs in schools
David Charter, Chief Political Correspondent The Times
Monday 23 Feb 2004 TEACHERS delivered an immediate rebuff to plans unveiled by Tony Blair yesterday for random drug-testing in schools. The Prime Minister said that head teachers would be given new powers next month to demand urine tests of pupils or bring sniffer dogs into class. Mr Blair is alarmed at the growth of drug-taking among teenagers with one in three 15-year-olds telling a survey that they had tried an illicit substance at least once. But most classroom unions said that the powers were not welcome because they would turn teachers into a branch of the police. The Conservatives added to the criticism, accusing the Government of sending mixed signals on drugs after lowering the classification of cannabis. Mr Blair said in an interview with the News of the World: 'If heads believe they have a problem in their school then they should be able to do random drug testing. 'Guidance will be given to head teachers next month which is going to give them specifically the power to do random drug testing within their schools.' The Department for Education and Skills disclosed earlier this year that it was looking at new guidelines, which it had planned to publish this month. A spokesman said that tests would not be carried out by teachers and that heads would decide what sanctions to take against pupils caught with drugs or those who refused a test. Parents permission would be required for tests on pupils under 16. But John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said: 'I am concerned at the implication that the drugs problem is rooted in schools and that schools should solve it. 'Yet another burden is being placed on schools, which have a contribution to make to solving the drugs problem but policies must look much more widely. 'I do not think that head teachers will want to carry out random drugs testing in schools. It is something that would change the atmosphere in schools, would change the relationship between the school and the pupil.' Jean Gemmell, general secretary of the Professional Association of Teachers, said: 'My first reaction was to be fairly horrified, mostly because I cannot quite see how on earth it is going to work. 'As a former head and someone who represents teachers, it is adding to their burden of social responsibility to the point that it becomes untenable.' Eamonn O'Kane, general secretary of the teaching union NASUWT, added: 'This would be a very big step for any head teacher to take. It is effectively giving them police powers and I think a head teacher would want to think very, very carefully before exercising them.' David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, agreed with Mr Blair's plans but cautioned that it would only work with the support of head teachers. Research conducted by Euromed, a company which specialises in drug testing, yesterday suggested that most parents would be happy for a tighter focus on drugs. The study said two in three parents asked supported random drug testing in schools and 69 per cent of them would allow their own child to be tested.
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