STUNG AGAIN

It's shocking really.

Two local high schools were simultaneously raided by police Thursday
morning in a sweep for drugs.

It's not the fact the police carried out the raids on the high schools
that's so shocking, it's the results that should be leaving jaws dropping
throughout our community.

Given the opportunity to turn their drugs in without criminal charges
before a search was conducted to uncover them, 49 students from both
schools decided to take them up on the offer. Five others, who clearly
thought either their stashes wouldn't be found or were simply worth too
much, decided to take their chances in the raid and are now facing criminal
charges. The other 49 will be dealt with under the Safe Schools Act and
face suspensions and possible expulsion.

This is all shocking news. What makes it moreso however, is the fact a
similar operation was conducted by police exactly one week before right
across the street from Banting. The arrests made in the first blitz were
well publicized and yet seven days later, 54 students at the two
institutions brought drugs with them to school again. Maybe they thought
the heat was off with the first raid so close at hand. These raids are more
about deterrence than anything else and the option offered the students
Thursday proves it. The idea is to get the drugs out of our schools and
surprise raids, although not pretty, are an effective way to do it.

There undoubtedly will be some parents out there with good children who
will balk at them being subjected to the inconvenience of such a raid. But
they need to ask themselves this question: Which would I prefer, my child
being inconvenienced by being forced to sit in a classroom for two hours
one day, or being exposed to magic mushrooms, cocaine and marijuana every day?

Those with any sense will choose the former.

CW