Case Study Paper: Drug Testing for Athletes in Public School Supreme Court Case Vernonia School District vs. Acton I chose to do my case study paper on drug testing in public schools.
This is of great interest to me as a teacher and coach because our school district recently decided to random test our student-athletes. My awareness of the solvent facts in this case will enable myself to be recognascent of any problems that may arise in the future.
This case begins with a typical small logging town in Oregon in 1991.
Administrators, school officials, and school board members were concerned of the rampant use of drugs and alcohol in their school community, especially among athletes. They decided to implement a mandatory drug test at the beginning of each sport season and random tests throughout the season beginning in 7th "ÃÂ12th grades. James Acton, a 7th grader, signed up to play football but his parents refused to sign the consent form or take the test.
Amendment to the bill for the admission of the Sta...
photograph of the justices, cropped to show Justic...
English: Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin S...James was denied participation in football because he refused to abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the policy of the school board.
No big deal"æWrong! The parents decided to file a lawsuit in federal court claiming the drug test violated the 4th Amendment's ban on unreasonable searches, the 14th Amendment's protection of liberty and privacy, and also the Oregon Constitution. The District judge dismissed the suit, but the United States Court of Appeals reversed the decision. After several appeals, this case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court to review the case and give a final ruling.
The United States Supreme Court ruled that the drug testing was constitutional under the 4th and 14th amendments and James could not participate in football or any athletics until...