You knew it was coming, of course. The membership of Hawaii's State Teachers Association voted for random drug testing despite leadership opposition.
The Honolulu Advertiser on the legal hurdles: Challenges might come, according to union leaders, who say some Hawai'i teachers have been in contact with the Hawai'i branch of the American Civil Liberties Union and private attorneys. TT - Encouraged, no doubt, by the union.
An attorney for the National Education Association, which represents 2 million teachers nationwide, said the legal issues surrounding teacher testing are murky because the U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled specifically on random drug testing of teachers.TT - They will do their best to make sure it never gets there.
They will, of course, use Play 187. It's a standard oppositional tactic developed after Californians voted for and passed Proposition 187 cutting off funding for illegal aliens. As soon as practical, the opposition sent the issue to a leftwing friendly court - the crackpots in the Ninth Court - where the case languishes. Once that happens, if you don't appeal, the problem just goes away. The state of California is happy not to appeal.
Count on the same thing in Hawaii. And the teachers won't give back the 8% raise either.
It's particularly odd, though, that firemen and policemen have been subject to random drug testing, even lie detector testing, for decades without legal challenge. Strange that random drug testing is suddenly a legal issue, no? Play 187 will ensure that their political allies in the Legislature do not pay a penalty for opposing implementation of the plan.
The only one who isn't a consideration is -- the student. But, then, that's typical of education unions. Your child is last place in anyone's game plan.
