Pubdate: Thu, 21 Jul 2005
Source: Creston Valley Advance (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Sterling Newspapers Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.crestonvalley.com/advance/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1413
Author: Lorne Eckersley

PARENTS ANGRY OVER SCHOOL DRUG POLICY

A new School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) policy to deal with students'
drug and alcohol abuse and subsequent suspensions has angered members of the
District Parent Advisory Council.

DPAC Chair Lenora Trenaman, of Balfour, presented a list of objections to
the new policy at last month's regular board meeting, but the policy was
adopted, with only trustees Bob Ewashen and Penny Tees voting against the
motion.

"I'm not sure if we could have reached a consensus," Ewashen said last week,
"But I think there should have been more consultation to discuss the
parents' concerns."

Trenaman presented a list of objections before the policy was adopted,
citing procedural, logical and educational reasons for parents' objections.

The policy calls for the immediate removal from class and return home with a
parent of any student found to be, or appear to be, under the influence of
drugs or alcohol. A student would be under suspension until a meeting with
parents, principal and student can be arranged. Suspensions remain an option
for further punishment.

While DPAC members agree that students under the influence must be removed,
it is the focus on suspensions that has drawn their wrath.

"This policy mandates suspensions as a consequence.  However, the research
shows that suspensions are among the least effective methods of discipline.
We trust, as a responsible board, you will not ignore the research,"
Trenaman said at the meeting.

She cited a Ministry of Education document, Focus on Suspensions, that says
suspensions result in unintended consequences.  Among those are "diminished
self-esteem, increased avoidance behaviours, decreased academic success,
increased drop-out rate, increased stress levels, feelings of discouragement
and increased risk of suicide."

Another Ministry document, Policy Guidelines for Dealing with Disruptive
Behaviour, she said, states, "Out of school suspensions are not very
effective at changing student behaviour."  It goes on to recommend, "School
districts should offer more guidance to school administrators on how to
improve the learning environment through positive means, and so assist in
reducing the use of out-of-school suspensions."

Trenaman said this week, "The last round of feedback didn't really happen
because the wrong policy was up on the Web site and the policy was put to
notice of motion before the feedback period was over and without agreement
from the policy committee to put it to the board. The public never had the
opportunity to give feedback on the latest draft."

She agreed with Ewashen's assessment that consensus may not have been
possible.

"However, it should have been the board's duty to look at the research and
to do what is best for the children," she said.

"They were presented with a lot of research which showed that this policy is
detrimental to the well-being of students and they went along with it
anyway.  The convenience of principals was more important than the
well-being of the students.

"There is an alternate teacher in our district who has just completed her
Master's Degree thesis on effectiveness of suspensions.  Her research
includes 185 survey responses from parents, students, teachers,
administrators, community people, etc.  from within our district. She does
not believe suspensions are an effective form of discipline."

Board chair Norm McCarvell had not responded to questions from the Advance
at press time.