Pubdate: Sun, 09 Apr 2006
Source: Northern Daily Leader (Australia)
Copyright: 2006sRural Press Ltd
Contact:  http://tamworth.yourguide.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/602
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

STUDENTS COULD BE CHARGED BY POLICE

Police are considering whether to charge any of the 20  suspended 
students at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High  School, according to 
the NSW Department of Education  and Training director general Andrew 
Cappie-Wood.

Mr Cappie-Wood said on Saturday students could still  face expulsion 
as investigations continued into  cannabis use by students in the 
school's grounds. Eight  of the 20 students have already been 
interviewed by  police and further interviews will occur this week. 
Parents from outlying areas have been forced to travel  to Tamworth 
to pick up their suspended sons.

Yesterday Mr Cappie-Wood said police had been notified  and were 
considering whether to charge any of the  students. He said relieving 
principal James Levy had  not ruled out expelling the students.

"In terms of our suspension and expulsion policy, what  we do have is 
some clear evidence as a result of the  police speaking with the 
students and that has  triggered a discipline policy where we've seen 
immediate suspension of a number of students," Mr  Cappie-Wood told reporters.

"[But] the principal has written to parents to say that  expulsions 
are not out of the question."

He said the investigation would hopefully determine  whether it was 
an isolated incident. He praised Mr Levy  for taking quick action 
against the pupils.

"In the circumstances we are very happy with the  actions of the 
principal and he has the department's  full support in taking swift 
action to involve the  police and parents in this particular issue," 
Mr  Cappie-Wood said.

"Clearly drugs are not tolerated in any of our schools  and we have a 
very strong discipline policy to be able  to support that."

Drug education was part of the curriculum of all NSW  public schools 
and the school had a drug education  officer, he said.

"We need to make sure that those boarding schools as  well as all 
high schools understand that there's a very  clear policy around 
drugs and that is that they are not  tolerated at all."

It is believed the marijuana was taken into the school  and not 
cultivated on the premises.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom