CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL'S ZERO DRUGS TOLERANCE CRITICISED

CAMBRIDGE - Cambridge High School has continued its hard-nosed approach to
cannabis despite criticism from drug educators that the stance creates
problems.

The school excluded eight pupils, aged between 13 and 14, in June for
first-time offences ranging from cannabis possession to supply.

Pupils under 16 are excluded, rather than expelled, to represent their right
to an education. Principal Alison Annan said the school had a zero tolerance
towards drug use.

The school is well known for its tough stance and in 1996 it came under
attack from parents of 14 students, aged 12 to 15 years, who were suspended
indefinitely for drug use.

A leading drug educator, Youth Trust chairman Jeff McIntyre, said Cambridge
High School's tough stance did little more than divert the problem and
create bigger ones.

Mr McIntyre said schools should look at drug assessment programmes rather
than immediate suspension or expulsion.

Since Mr McIntyre's first drugs in schools workshop at the New Zealand
School Trustees Association annual conference last year, 30 high schools
have considered or formally adopted new drug policies, with positive
results.

The extreme example is what Mr McIntyre calls the "cohesive approach," where
students are suspended but then allowed back to school if urine tests show
they are drug free and they agree to random drug tests.

Mr McIntyre said the approach also allows drug educators to help students to
understand their drug problem.

Mrs Annan said schools did not have the expertise or funding to conduct drug
diversion programmes and said it was a community responsibility.

"It diverts from the main task of education. We provide drug education,
which works for the majority of our students, who manage to abide by our
rules."

She said her school does not have a drug problem and it is not the main
reason for exclusion.

Mr McIntyre said schools are part of the community. He said it may appear
that other students learn from the tough stance but really they just become
better at hiding their drug use.

But Mrs Annan and Mr McIntyre both believe softened cannabis laws will send
the wrong message to students and create a bigger problem with drug use in
schools.

"We are being sent a mixed message. One minute we are being told that in the
knowledge economy our brain will get us places and at the same time the
Government is contemplating softening the laws. Cannabis and education don't
go together," said Mrs Annan.

Their view joins that of the school trustees association, which has sent
petitions against decriminalisation to all school boards of trustees.