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British International School, among Phuket's best

Top Phuket School Responds to Rumors Over Teachers' Drug Tests

Monday, June 11, 2012
PHUKET: British International School Phuket could not confirm or deny rumors circulating around Phuket today that as many as 10 teachers have been sacked from the highly-regarded school after failing drugs tests.

Headmaster Neil Richards did make the point in a short written statement to Phuketwan that random drug testing is a feature of all schools on Phuket and that BIS complies with all laws.

''All schools have a zero tolerance policy,'' he said. ''The drug testing is a legal requirement.''

Confidentiality of headmaster-staff relations prevented Mr Richards from saying more.

It is known that all staff at the school, and other Phuket schools, are tested randomly for drugs.

According to the Phuket rumor, one of the teachers involved in failing the test protested innocence and was cleared in a more substantial second test.

Other staff at BIS are randomly checked, staff members confirmed today.

''We really take pride in this,'' one senior staffer said today. ''I am very proud that we have had this policy for years now. The parents appreciate us treating this seriously.''

The random tests are done by nurses under the control of Phuket's Public Health Department.

British International School, rated as among the best on Phuket, has more than 300 staff and 812 pupils. Students perform well by international standards.

''I don't see it as a big issue,'' the staffer said. ''Students are also tested. It's school policy.

''We comply with the local education requirements. All schools should be doing tests. The real story is if schools are not doing it.''

Comments

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There are always some false rights. Though not so many as one may hope. If you believe Hollywood, even the actors have to take tests, though some built a second private plastic part to show off peeing clean samples obtained by other people...

Posted by Lena on June 11, 2012 22:43

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Question: What was the quality of those 10 teachers compared with any other ten as measured by teaching quality?

Better? Worse or the same?

Why not sack the worse teachers instead of the ones who might smoke a spliff? Its not really good education policy.

Posted by Jake on June 12, 2012 08:51

Editor Comment:

This is the cultural conundrum. What's tolerated in the West is definitely not on in Thailand. Anyone in any profession who tests positive for drugs in Thailand is likely to find themselves out of a job. The school is obeying the law, as it should. There is no ''hey man . . .'' culture here. Please direct us to any research that suggests drug-takers make better teachers.

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Get real, a Spliff will show up to six months after, Heroin, Ice or any of the others is gone in 48 hours. Not then proving real drug users in these places. Are the non teaching staff tested???

Posted by Anonymous on June 12, 2012 09:46

Editor Comment:

All staff are tested at random. So are students. You are writing sentences that capitalise the names of illegal drugs, as if they are somehow deserving of special status. Get real.

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There is no research showing that drug takers make better teachers. The point I guess Jake is trying to make is 'does smoking a spliff make a good teacher into a bad one'. The answer is irrelevant as the law of Thailand has to be complied with.

Posted by Mr Man on June 12, 2012 09:58

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I am real, no drugs is the way to go. You need to get real as the drugs test is very flawed and does not get hard drug users.

Posted by Anonymous on June 13, 2012 08:20

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Maybe the law has to be complied with, but its an unjust law to criminalize people who ingest plants! God made grass and man made beer, who do you trust?

Posted by Jake on June 13, 2012 09:50


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