STUDENTS WHO SELL DRUGS GIVE UP RIGHTS

It seems our society is so concerned with the rights of the
individual, we forget that those rights end when they trample on the
rights of others. A smoker's right to smoke ends in a public
restaurant where others have the right to a smoke-free environment. A
student's right to learn ends when his actions endanger other
students and the teachers. A student who sells drugs to teenagers, on
or off school property or time, is a dangerous element to have
present in a school.

The school is claiming that the incident (the sale of drugs at a
party) corrupted the morals of the entire school community. Of course
it did. For the parent to argue that this is "an abuse of power" is
naive and self-serving. High school is a highly social environment.
The kids talk about what they do on the weekends. Making drug use
more accessible and acceptable to other students, on or off school
property, poisons the school climate and should have
consequences.

The articles state the parent's and her lawyer's objections to the
power that the school has under the Safe Schools Act. The school has
simply required the student to learn away from the school and the
other kids. The student has not been charged by police or had any
other punishment imposed on him. However, the accusations the parent
and her lawyer are making make it sound as if he has. Why should a
teacher have to "read him his rights" before interviewing a student
about his behaviour? The reason the schools have the power that they
do is because they are dealing with children, not adults, who need
parenting and boundaries.

The parent claims the act is "punishing [them] for being teenagers."
I believe the act is punishing them for selling drugs to teenagers.
Selling drugs is illegal for good reasons, and should not be regarded
as normal, acceptable teenage behaviour. There is a difference
between "common" and "appropriate." If you believe you are old enough
to decide to use and sell drugs, you are old enough to leave school
and learn by alternative means to get your high school diploma.

Apparently several students were suspended for this kind of
behaviour. Should the individual showcased in the article be
expelled, given the extenuating circumstances and history? I don't
presume to know. But don't confuse the issue by suggesting that
extracurricular activities don't impact the school culture on a wide
scale, or that school officials acting in the best interest of the
school at large are breaking the law.

Cheri Verge

Thomas Street