STUDENTS SKIP OUT ON SPECIAL DAY FOR DOPE

The date April 20 has links to drug use, Adolph Hitler's birthday and the
1999 massacre at Columbine High.

Locally, it was a reason for dozens of students at Pitt Meadows secondary
and Westview secondary to skip out of school.

As many as 160 students at the two schools took Friday off. As well, RCMP
school liaison officers were called to respond to rumours at Thomas Haney
and Westview secondary schools that someone was bringing a gun to school.

School liaison officer Const. Andrew Tolchard said Tuesday he was
disappointed so many parents were fearful enough to let their children stay
home from school yet few contacted the authorities about their concerns.

The date April 20 has taken on urban legend status, being tagged with
issues such as:

* the trend for grads to take a mass skip-out day,

* the 4:20 phenomenon

* the saying is that 4:20 is a good time to smoke pot, and April 20 is
national marijuana day because it's 4/20 all day,

* the day two students turned their guns on their peers at Columbine High
in Colorado in 1999; and

* Adolph Hitler?s birthday in 1889.

Tolchard said the skip outs at Westview seemed to be linked to the
Columbine issue, while those at Pitt Meadows seemed to have more to do with
spending a nice day at Alouette Lake.

Principals at Maple Ridge, Garibaldi and Thomas Haney reported no unusual
absences, but Tolchard said most local high schools had to remove 4:20
propaganda. The reference has also shown up in graffiti around town.

"There was some effort by a small group to make this into a bigger event
than it was", Tolchard said.

Pitt Meadows secondary is handing out one-day suspensions to those who
skipped out. On Monday and Tuesday, principal Wes Thomas was talking to the
60 Grade 12 students who missed school Friday to determine if their reasons
were legitimate. He also spoke to the entire grad class Monday.

The school has 211 grads, of which 15 might normally be away on any given day.

While it may seem odd to give students a day off for skipping out, Thomas
said suspension is the ultimate penalty for a student and may actually
prevent some from taking part in their graduation ceremonies.

Local high schools prohibit grads from joining in the ceremonies if they
miss more than 15 days of school with no legitimate reason. Thomas includes
suspensions in that number even though they're school imposed, they're
student earned, but said he also allows students to make up the missed hours.

"I believe in fairness and I believe this is fair," Thomas said. "If they
decide to skip out then they earned that suspension."

The 1,035-student Westview secondary had more than 100 students away in all
grades on Friday, although most were in Grade 9. Principal Claire Guy said
the absent students would not be suspended, mainly because they had their
parents' consent. However, the few students who were caught starting and
spreading the rumours have been disciplined.

"We take that very seriously," she said.

Tolchard said the April 20 phenomenon is fueled by baseless rumours, and
it's sad that past events continue to have a negative influence.

"Parents have to understand we're different here than the United States,"
Tolchard said, noting the presence of school liaison officers. "The schools
are open and they are safe places for them to be probably the safest place."