Starting next semester, Parkway has decided to bring drug dogs into all of the district’s high schools. While drug dogs may be effective in controlling drug issues on campuses, the payoff of the detection system is not comparable to the discomfort that students that don’t use drugs will feel.

While the action would be a preventative measure and could potentially clear the school of possible illegal substances, the problem does not seem so out of control that it is deserving of this extreme. Certain students may choose to break the code of conduct, but that is a miniscule minority. In fact, presenting intimidating drug dogs into the learning environment may inhibit the learning process-which is the exact opposite effect the administration is aiming for.

Some may argue that drugs in school inhibits the learning process, but putting students in a higher stress environment with a prison-like feel would actually be a greater detriment to learning as opposed to dealing with the apparent drug problem with specific, undisruptive methods.

However, is there really that large of a drug problem in our school? Few cases of on-campus possession have been brought to students’ attention, which leads one to doubt the need for drug dogs. These dogs will make students uncomfortable and who knows whether they will solve the problem or just lead drug-using students to put off use until the dogs leave.

An undisruptive method that could be used is anonymous tips to faculty and administration. Often times the talk of substances is taboo on a student to teacher basis, but if more students were encouraged to give tips about possible substance abuse, the drug dogs would not be necessary.

Even if the administration is set on implementing this system of investigation, they need to be more vocal with students. There has been little to no communication from faculty to students about drug dogs being introduced to the school, leaving almost everybody with a flood of questions.  Students should have a say in whether or not they feel comfortable having drug dogs around.

As a whole, the problem with drugs at our school does not seem so severe to warrant the use of drug dogs. This process of sniffing out culprits will have more of an adverse effect on innocent students than identifying substance rule breakers. A more contained system, well communicated to students, would be the better option in protecting the learning environment from drugs and drug dogs.