ACLU Asks Lafourche Parish Council not to Request Teacher Drug Tests

For Immediate Release October 28, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana sent a letter urging the Lafourche Parish Council not to seek state legislation allowing random drug testing of public school teachers and other employees. “Public school employees are entitled to the presumption of innocence and to protection from warrantless searches,” said Marjorie Esman, Executive Director.  “Random drug testing of teachers does nothing to deter drug use or to protect students, but it fosters a climate of suspicion and of disrespect for the U.S. and Louisiana Constitutions, which protect privacy and the right to be free from suspicionless searches.”

The ACLU letter was addressed to all 9 members of the Parish Counsel, and set out reasons why random drug testing of teachers is both bad policy and in violation of the US and the Louisiana Constitutions.

See open letter to the Lafourche Parish Council