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every child. one voice.
September 14, 2004
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor
First Floor, State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
RE: SUPPORT SB 1386 (Vasconcellos) Student Drug
Testing
On behalf of the over 5,000 PTA members at eight local schools here in Pleasanton, I am writing to urge you to sign SB 1386 which limits the kinds of drug testing policies schools can adopt in the State of California. We agree that drug and alcohol abuse by our young people is a matter of serious concern. However, we believe that random drug testing erodes trust and confidence in school settings because students are assumed guilty and forced to prove their innocence. Trust and confidence between students and adults at school are crucial to school connectedness, which we know is associated with better health risk behavior by students. Therefore, we agree with the intention of SB 1386 to limit the scope of drug testing and to focus on providing students with the appropriate services to assist them in regaining health and sobriety.
We believe that schools should not be in the business of expensive and ineffective drug testing, but rather of education, and positive support for students. Effective health education and the availability of quality after-school programs are a much better use of educational dollars than drug testing. We urge you to sign this bill in the interests of the ongoing physical and emotional health and safety of our students.
Sincerely,
Debbie Look
President
Cc: California State PTA Legislative Office (FAX 916-442-0906)