STUDENTS TO TOE LINE UNDER CODE

Students will have to sing "O Canada" in school this fall after a code
of conduct law was passed by MPPs yesterday.

The code the government wants every Ontario student to follow is
effective this September.

Bill 81, the Safe Schools Act, passed third and final reading 48 to
41.

It gives teachers the right to hand out one-day suspensions and
principals the authority to expel students for up to one year.
Previously, teachers could not suspend students and principals could
not expel them.

Expelled students will be required to attend strict-discipline school
programs but the law does not contain any specifics on such programs
or allot any extra funds for them.

Offences requiring automatic suspensions include: swearing at a
teacher or other person in authority; being in possession of
alcohol/illegal drugs; being under the influence of alcohol/illegal
drugs.

The code reads: "All school members must: Not be in possession of, or
under the influence of, or provide others with, alcohol or illegal
drugs . . ."

The original proposal included a mandatory oath to the Queen and daily
singing of "O Canada" but the oath was later made optional.

The new act requires criminal background checks by fall 2001 for
everyone working at schools. Ecker has not committed any new funding
for school boards to do those checks.

The law gives a majority of parents at any school in Ontario the
authority to require a dress code or uniform for their children.