Pubdate: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 Source: Barrie Examiner (CN ON) Copyright: 2005, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2317 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?217 (Drug-Free Zones) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) TIME TO RETHINK OUR SAFE SCHOOLS Sometimes the pendulum swings too far, and Ontario's Safe Schools Act is probably a good example. Enacted by the previous provincial government, under `The Common Sense Revolution, Mark II,' the act has virtually zero tolerance for students. It imposes automatic suspensions and expulsions for offences such as assault, drug trafficking, selling or carrying weapons or alcohol. Students can also be immediately suspended for threatening to harm another student, vandalism, swearing and or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The act was a response to situations in Ontario schools that had gotten out of hand. Teachers and students just didn't feel safe in some Ontario schools, an atmosphere that's clearly counter-productive to learning. But the act merits review for a few reasons. In Toronto, it's now being called the Gang Recruitment Act. Teenagers expelled from school often end up in gangs, and, anyone paying attention to the headlines has seen the violence and death caused by Toronto gangs. Opponents of the Safe Schools Act say throwing kids out on the streets is not an answer, and it's difficult to disagree. There have to be some alternate education streams developed so that troubled teens have a choice, other than gangs. It's not just punishment for the serious offences, however, that needs re-thinking. A 16-year-old Brampton resident was suspended for 20 days from school for stealing a can of pop and a bag of potato chips, which he denied doing. On any scale of justice, that's a heavy hand. Not that there isn't merit in showing Ontario students that actions have consequences, and that illegal actions have dire consequences. An argument can certainly be made that students who bring weapons or drugs to school might already have gang connections. And that the majority of students attending Ontario schools deserve to be safe, and to feel safe as well. But in the same breath, it's wrong to do nothing to help students who have run afoul of the law. They are youths, teenagers -- not hardened criminals -- and it's too early to give up on them. >From a purely financial point of view, it's also much less expensive to help them now than to deal with them later through police, our justice and prison systems. The question is how? Perhaps Ontario school officials need to find a better way of identifying students with problems at at earlier age. Maybe the answer is a better mentor system, one that teams older students with younger ones, to help show them the way. The Liberals say they will begin public consultations on the Safe schools Act within the next few weeks. But any solutions can't just be for Toronto schools. There has to be a flexibility that allows school officials to deal with each situation on its own merits. That doesn't mean that serious offences involving assaults and weapons should be treated lightly. But the number of school suspensions jumped by 40 per cent in the Safe Schools Act's first year, and have stayed there ever since. Ontario schools need to be safe, no question. However, every kid cannot be treated the same way, because every kid is different. The pendulum needs to swing back a little. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin