DRUG RUMOURS AS TOP SCHOOL EXPELS GIRLS

Nine girls from a leading private school have been expelled after
allegedly being caught smoking marijuana.

The Year 9 students at Pymble Ladies' College were expelled last
week.

The principal, Mrs Gillian Moore, would only say yesterday that
"several girls" were asked to leave after a "serious breach of school
rules".

She would not confirm or deny that the use of marijuana was behind the
girls' expulsions, but said the college was prepared to help the girls
find places at other schools.

The NSW Federation of Parents and Citizens' Associations has called on
the school to "come clean" about why the girls were expelled.

The federation's president, Ms Beverly Baker, said it was time private
schools that received public funding were open to the same level of
public accountability and scrutiny as government schools."This is a
private school receiving more than $2 million in public funding, and
the public has no idea why they have suspended girls who they have
already received their grants for," she said.

Ms Baker said there was a problem with the school "turfing them out"
without having to hand back some of the government funding for their
enrolment.

"Any school that treats kids as disposable is letting society down,"
she said.

Mr Duncan McInnes, the executive officer of the NSW Parents' Council,
which represents non-government school parents, said it was common for
private school principals to help place a student in another school to
make a "fresh start".

"Parents choose a school with a particular ethos and rules, and if
those rules are not abided by then your child might be asked to
leave," he said. "If it is a serious use of an illegal drug the action
is taken to expel the student, and that is a very final and ultimate
punishment.

"I don't think that there is any cover-up. It is a matter for the
school community and the family involved, and it is up to those two
parties to sort it out for the good of those young people."