Tianay Pulphus; Jennings High School, 2009

Many people will say "this is infringing on our rights!" My thing is, if you have nothing to hide, then there really isn't a problem. It is just a piece of hair!!! True it does end up being a big deal if you are doing these drugs, but the thing is you shouldn't. This is just a way to try and prevent that from happening. If it is that much of a problem for the school to have to resort to such drastic measures to get YOU (their students) to stop abusing themselves and messing up there future then so be it. If you have a problem with this then it really goes to show exactly how ignorant to the fact that there are those that are helping you.

Patty Rodriguez; Parkway North High School; 2009

I don't think I agree with the $45 part. That's kind of rude to say, "Hey, you HAVE to do this to make US happy, but you have to pay." I don't know, seems kind of rude to me. Anywho, doesn't marijuana stay in your hair for seven years?

Elizabeth Kiderlin; Former Director, St. Louis World Affairs Council

These tests in my opinion primarily serve to desensitize the next generation to invasions of their privacy. They are growing up in an atmosphere of "suspected until proven innocent". As a result, they become complacent about their individual rights. Some uber drug testing equipment salesman is making their fortune over this.

Corey Wischmeyer; Metro High School, 2006

Listen, CBC is a private school; they have standards they wish to keep; they should be able to keep them.

Tony Keel; S.L.U.H., 2006

I completely agree with this drug testing policy. I mean, I had to get such a test for my job, and I bet some other people do as well. It's no big deal, and the school is very generous in not expelling the kids at first. I like their rehab idea. However, the parents have to pay for it, so that will cause some issues. That's what private schools do. Good thing the test doesn't pick up alcohol, because I don't want to know all the people that do that.

Sarah O'Brien; Incarnate Word Academy, 2006

The Drug Testing Policy at CBC might be one of the largest infringements on student rights that is happening in local STL--besides normal newspaper editing (censorship?) and the favoritism shown to athletes. The tough part about this event is the fact that CBC is a private school, and is not funded singularly by the government (they help, but not much). Since it is a private school, the boys have many other options, even parochial schools to attend that receive archdiocesan funding, therefore if they wanted to protest the drug test, the administration would have the power to say, "Have a problem? Go somewhere else." Another fact is that this isn't happening only at CBC. If a student who attends a private high school gets in trouble with the police, or is found with drugs or alcohol on their person the school can ask them to leave. This is usually done under the idea that by removing that student, they are reinforcing that they have a good reputation. IE--if you damage the reputation of a private high school you can "lawfully" be asked to withdraw. Not that we actually have the right, as citizens or as teenagers. But this sort of activity against students and their private lives is not fair, and some measure needs to be taken to check these private educational organizations so that they are within the constitution.