Pubdate: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2002 Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Melanie Brooks DOG FOUND NO DRUGS BUT BOY STILL SUSPENDED Smell Of Marijuana: 'Zero Tolerance Gone Insane,' Lawyer Says OTTAWA - A 15-year-old boy suspended from school because a police dog smelled marijuana on his jacket has retained one of Ottawa's top criminal lawyers, saying he won't let the school board trample his rights. Chris Laurin -- who had no drug in his possession -- wants the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board to apologize and erase the suspension, or face a lawsuit. "Chris chose to become an advocate for youth,"said his father, Michel Laurin. "We're looking at litigation to change rights for teens. Chris is being humiliated in front of his peers, and he didn't do anything wrong. I'm very proud about how Chris is handling this." Chris arrived at St. Matthew high school in Orleans Tuesday just before the school principal announced a "lockdown." Police officers, at the request of the school, searched the premises for weapons or drugs. Minutes later, Chris's Grade 10 class was told to wait outside while a police officer and drug-sniffing dog went through the classroom. The police came out holding Chris's ski jacket. Chris was taken to the principal's office, where the vice-principal questioned him and searched his jacket, his bag and his locker. Even though they didn't find any drugs -- and the vice-principal admitted she couldn't smell marijuana on the jacket -- Chris was suspended and sent home. He was initially told he would be suspended for three days -- the minimum for such an "offence" -- but the vice-principal later called Mr. Laurin and said Chris was suspended for two days and will have to see a drug counsellor when he returns to school. When Mr. Laurin first heard about the suspension Tuesday, he talked to Chris about it, and gave him a choice: They could accept the decision, or they could fight it, and bring attention to the way teens are treated in schools. "I feel very good about bringing out this issue," Chris said. "It's not fair. I didn't do anything wrong, so why was I suspended? I don't understand how they can do this to a student who didn't do anything wrong." Asked if he uses drugs, Chris said some of his friends do. After calling the human rights commission and being told Chris's rights had likely been violated, Mr. Laurin decided to pursue the matter legally. He called lawyer Lawrence Greenspon last night. "This is zero-tolerance gone insane," said Mr. Greenspon. "I read this article and as I was reading, I was thinking 'I don't believe this, this is not happening.' " Mr. Greenspon is to meet with Chris and Mr. Laurin this morning, on what is to be Chris's first day of school after being suspended Tuesday. Mr. Laurin wants the board to re-examine the policy that strips students of their rights. If the board refuses, Mr. Laurin said he will seek remuneration for the damage done to his son. "I look at Chris, and I wonder, what kind of an example is this setting for him? What is this teaching him?" said Mr. Laurin, who has another son, Andrew, 12. "I look at Chris, and just hope this will make his character stronger, and he'll learn from this to stand up for what's right. You have to stand up for your civil liberties." Chris's parents have the right to appeal a suspension, but the appeal usually takes longer than the suspension itself. Michael Baine, the superintendent of student services for the school board, couldn't comment on Chris's case specifically because of student privacy concerns, but said suspensions aren't given lightly. "There are policies in place we have to follow," he said. "The province's Safe Schools Act, which went into effect this year, required all boards to establish a stricter policy. It has some pretty tight restrictions. The principal considers this, and determines an appropriate punishment. "We have to remember, this policy is for the safety of the students. Nobody wants drug-sniffing dogs in schools, but we don't want drugs on school grounds." Mr. Greenspon called that policy "nothing short of ridiculous. "Are they seriously saying there's a school policy that says if a dog sniffs a coat, and barks a certain way, and they find no drugs, they have to suspend the student anyway? "I can't believe the school has acted this way. But then, it's the world we're living in -- the schools have this non-thinking, zero-tolerance approach and they've taken it to extreme." Mr. Laurin said he and Chris will take this "all the way," until the policy is changed and Chris's record is cleared. "I've always supported the board in the past, but I disagree with this decision. I deem it unfair. And this policy has to be changed." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom