EDITOR:
I'm writing this letter to correct any misperceptions that may have occurred from a recent article that ran about our school district's drug testing results: www.recordcourier.com/article/20101016/NEWS/101019883=search
Although reporter Scott Neuffer gave an accurate report with regard to the number of positive drug tests at Whittell High School, the report was misleading because there's no explanation of what those numbers actually mean. The numbers should have been explained in more detail because the impression the reader is left with is that Whittell has a drug problem when really the school doesn't have a drug problem.
Here's part of what he ran (please refer to the link above for entire article):
"The highest rate came from Whittell High School at approximately 5.4 percent. Out of 186 tests administered, only one was refused, but four positives came from the freshman class, three from sophomores, and two from the junior pool."
Unfortunately, the reader is lead to believe that at Whittell, four kids took the test in the freshman class, when really four tests were given and only two kids tested positive. One student tested positive three times. Of course this could also be the case at Douglas High assuming that a student would randomly get retested.
But I think readers also need to know that comparatively, Whittell High School is small in size and that 80 percent of the students are tested because the school has a very high percentage of students participating in extracurricular activities. This is compared to a large school with a much lower percentage participating in extracurricular activities (I think it's only 20 percent tested) at Douglas High.
All students who test positive the first time and would like to remain in the activity automatically get tested a second time. Most students don't choose this option but in our case they did.
A question would be: If you tested 100 percent of the students at each school, would Whittell still have a higher percentage? Most likely not.
I think the readers were mislead so that's why I wanted to pass this info. along.
Tracy Owen Chapman
Zephyr Cove
