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The Supreme Court 5-4 decision in March 2002, ruled that it is constitutional to test students involved in competitive extracurricular activities. The Supreme Court 2002 decision applies to public school students in High School or Middle School, who participate in after school competitive after-school activities or teams. They can be randomly tested for drugs. The Supreme Court believes it doesn't violate the students' fourth Amendment rights, against unreasonable searches. Some high school students seem to agree with the Supreme Court decision. "I think (school drug tests) are constitutional, because they are trying to keep you secure. It's for your benefit and other people as well" said Petra Griffith, a Martin Luther King Jr. High School student. Like Griffith, other high school students feel that the Supreme Court decision was the correct one. They feel that school drug tests don't violate the students constitutional rights, because they are looking out for the students safety and are not trying to hurt them. "(School drug tests) don't take away students rights. It's just a way to protect them from harm, because if they do an extracurricular activity such as basketball, and they did drugs, they might drop down and die. By making the test you would be able to ensure their safety" said Edward R. Murrow High School student, Tanika Harper. Students also feel that school drug tests can keep a drug-free school environment. It can prevent students from using drugs, and in the process help them quit drugs. "I don't think (school drug tests) are unconstitutional because if the drugs are affecting students' performance, and they are leading a destructive way of life, then the students should be help" said Murrow student, Jennifer Fequiere. But there are other students who don't seem to agree with the Supreme Court decision. They feel that their rights are being violated and that the students should have the right to choose whether to get tested or not. "(School drug tests) would be unconstitutional. It is private whatever an individual does. Unless the guy or the girl decides to take the test, I think that kind of testing should be unconstitutional...I would protest against it" said Murrow student Vladimir Hernandez. To other students the issues is whether or not the drug test results are shown to the students parents. Also what activity the students perform and if the student's health would interfere with their performance. "I think (school drug tests) it's wrong. It interferes with the privacy of the students. However, it depends if (results) it's release to our parents. The students who participate in sports should be tested, because if they are not they can't perform up to standards" said Sashanie Anderson, a Murrow Student. The Supreme Court decision is criticized by some and supported by others. But drugs affect everyone one way or another, whether the person is a student or not.
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