Posted on 07/22/2005 1:43:50 PM PDT by Mikey_1962
HOUSTON -- A 79-year-old school crossing guard was fired over a drug test, but not because he failed it, Local 2 reported Thursday. Francis Light refused to take it, violating Houston Independent School District policy.
Light has been a familiar face at Oak Forest Elementary School in northwest Houston for 16 years as the school's crossing guard. He was fired last month after refusing to take a random drug-alcohol test. Light said his system is clean, and after so many loyal years on the job, he was insulted.
"I got to think as long as people know me, long as I've been doing this, then they want me to take a drug test kind of made me mad," he said.
An HISD spokesman said all employees are subject to random tests.
Light signed the form, but did not read the fine print.
"He's the only one with loving touch. He knows you by name," said Kenneth Bonte, a student.
Parents said they would miss Light's presence at the school intersection.
"It sounds like there was a misunderstanding. He should've been handled possibly more gently," said Vonda Bonte, a mother.
"He's as much a part of the school as teachers are," said Ann Zallar, a mother.
Light said he should have just submitted to the drug-alcohol test, but said there are no hard feelings. He said that he will be turning 80 years old soon and he was considering retiring anyway. Light just did not want it to end like this.
HISD considers all refusals to take the drug-alcohol test as a positive test.
It requires employees to submit to the tests immediately. The district has a policy to terminate all employees who refuse to take the test
(Excerpt) Read more at click2houston.com ...
well good for you.
I will, however, continue to pee in the cup whenever they ask, because it is required of me as a part of keeping my clearance AND my job.
You will probably find a convicted pedophile through a background check. You will probably find drug users through random drug tests. Gramps is unlikely to be a crack dealer, but could very well be impaired by alcohol or illegal drugs. If he wants the job, he pees in a cup. If not, see ya!
Roger that, LPC. Figures that this one would bring out all the anti-drug war whiners. You got it spot on.
79 years, he should know how the world works, he should understand about impartial rules, and he should not be carrying a chip on his shoulder. Grow up!
In related news a 5th grade student today was killed while trying to cross a busy street on the way home from school. Asked to comment, Principal Paul Bearer could only say "BUSHFAULT"
Of course, in our most litigious of all nations, there is no way that common sense will ever be applied to this situation.
I dislike drug tests in general, just for how invasive they are (even urinalysis).
I get to look forward to quarterly drug tests as a soldier, though (joy).
Not saying I approve of random tests---but neither do I approve of whining because someone "didn't read the fine print." Sounds like a Democrat to me.
Hard to do when you post multiple times to EVERY SINGLE THREAD.
OK, my point has been made, I'm done.
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Still looking for the words "drug test" in there. Funny thing, the courts haven't been able to find them, either. And they also don't skip over that silly adjective, "unreasonable", which kind of screws up your interpretation. They say you're wrong and I'm right. Go figure.
I think if you actually tabulate my posts vs. the number of threads you'll see I post on a fairly small percentage of them - perhaps we are simply interested in the same topics.
Post # 23 shows him to be a White Man.
I assume that answers your question about the ACLU
There was a convicted murderer teaching in a school around the DC area recently, and the superintendent went on TV to defend him!
Hell, I would have fired him for wearing that butt-ugly plaid shirt. And would it kill you to button up those cuffs there, Methusala?
B.S.
Promoting the illusion that the spectre of drug use is scarier than the loss of privacy.
Now Diddle E., how would you know that unless you were doing the same thing?
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