NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifeService
Drug Testing Makes It Clear: Drugs are not Part of Darlington’s Culture
Oct 25, 2000 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
This fall, for the first time in Darlington’s history, each entering Upper School student was required to take a drug test and present the results to the School before being registered. This action was taken in response to the second goal of Goals 2000, which charged the School to study the patterns and extent of drug and alcohol use among Darlington students and developing a community-wide response.
“The fact that we require drug screening sends a strong and clear message that we don’t want drugs in our community,” Headmaster David Rhodes said. “Drugs cannot be part of our educational program.”
“This drug testing program sets us apart from other schools, public and private, in saying how serious we are here about this issue,” President David Hicks said. “Frankly, I think it speaks of moral courage and of the kind of love for kids that many talk about the need for but few are really willing to show. It says we’re not just going to join the chorus of those who complain about the erosion of American culture, but we’re going to do something about the culture, at least insofar as it permeates our School.”
“I’m hopeful that the House Senate will now take up the topic of random drug testing and craft a proposal to this effect that an overwhelming majority of students and faculty can support,” said Hicks.
“I believe the purpose of our drug testing program is to make a strong statement to our students, their families, and our community,” Jill Pate, director of student counseling, said. “We all know that requiring a pre-registration drug screen is not likely to catch anyone doing drugs and that certainly wasn’t our desire. Hopefully, though, it does open up a dialogue between students and their parents and it gives credibility to Darlington’s desire to provide a healthy and safe environment for our students.”
In the October meeting of the House Senate, the prefects discussed the effect of the drug policy.
“I know people who have stayed away from drugs because of the testing policy and therefore I feel it is effective,” Senior Tia Brown, Gibbons House prefect, said. “Another factor in the decrease of drug use is that students look up to prefects who are a positive influence,” she said.
Senior Meredith Ansley, another Gibbons House prefect, said, “Random drug testing would give people a better reason to say ‘no.’”
“The fact that we require drug screening sends a strong and clear message that we don’t want drugs in our community,” Headmaster David Rhodes said. “Drugs cannot be part of our educational program.”
“This drug testing program sets us apart from other schools, public and private, in saying how serious we are here about this issue,” President David Hicks said. “Frankly, I think it speaks of moral courage and of the kind of love for kids that many talk about the need for but few are really willing to show. It says we’re not just going to join the chorus of those who complain about the erosion of American culture, but we’re going to do something about the culture, at least insofar as it permeates our School.”
“I’m hopeful that the House Senate will now take up the topic of random drug testing and craft a proposal to this effect that an overwhelming majority of students and faculty can support,” said Hicks.
“I believe the purpose of our drug testing program is to make a strong statement to our students, their families, and our community,” Jill Pate, director of student counseling, said. “We all know that requiring a pre-registration drug screen is not likely to catch anyone doing drugs and that certainly wasn’t our desire. Hopefully, though, it does open up a dialogue between students and their parents and it gives credibility to Darlington’s desire to provide a healthy and safe environment for our students.”
In the October meeting of the House Senate, the prefects discussed the effect of the drug policy.
“I know people who have stayed away from drugs because of the testing policy and therefore I feel it is effective,” Senior Tia Brown, Gibbons House prefect, said. “Another factor in the decrease of drug use is that students look up to prefects who are a positive influence,” she said.
Senior Meredith Ansley, another Gibbons House prefect, said, “Random drug testing would give people a better reason to say ‘no.’”
