FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
One New Jersey high school is getting serious about teen drinking by making Breathalyzer tests mandatory at dances and other social events.
According to a local TV report, the school's superintendent says some students' behavior had left them with no choice. School officials say the test, which is similar to what takes place at a police traffic stop, sends a clear message about their zero-tolerance policy when it comes to alcohol.
And, it appears to be working. Students are passing the Breathalyzer tests, and other districts are now starting to do the same. One Connecticut high school is even implementing such tests on a daily basis when students are suspected of drinking.
Critics of school Breathalyzer tests say it violates student's rights. But the New Jersey school insists it’s steering clear of privacy issues by making the students sign a contract that says they have to take a Breathalyzer test if they go to school social events.
Here’s my question to you: Do you approve of mandatory Breathalyzer tests for high school students?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Michael from Philadelphia writes:
Jack, Having just been a high school student less than a year ago, I can tell you how rampant the alcohol and drug problem among our youth is. I can literally only name one peer of mine who has not done marijuana, and not one who has not drank alcohol. This is just one necessary step in reforming our schools.
David writes:
I do not approve of mandatory Breathalyzer tests for high school students. I believe we still need proof of a problem before we violate our students’ constitutional rights. Kids are Americans, too. What message does it send to young people if we do this?
Johnny writes:
As a former public school teacher, I have personally witnessed the decline in the active and diligent involvement of parental involvement in their children's lives. Schools are consistently being asked to everything but teach. Deal with manners, ethics, hygiene, respect, sociological issues, sexual orientation... While I don't relish the idea of Breathalyzers in schools, I certainly can't blame the schools for having to pick up where the parents have left off.
Dale from Texas City, Texas writes:
Absolutely NOT! My kids now have to take drug urine test to sing in choir at 13. I would like to pull them out of school and home school them or send them to private school. I expect the school to teach reading, writing and arithmetic. The school is not the parent and has no right.
Terry writes:
Jack, Let’s go the whole route: metal detectors, Breathalyzers, random drug tests, and whatever it takes to get back to making schools a learning environment.
Courtney writes:
I think it's a great idea. I'm just glad they didn't come up with it while I was in high school.