STRICTER PENALTIES NEEDED IN HIGH SCHOOL

In the last while during our provincial and municipal elections there has
been lots of talking about more funding will mean better schools for us
kids. But there are cheaper and more long lasting ways to boost kid's marks
and attendance records.

I am a Grade 11 student at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Tottenham. The
main problems at high schools today, at least in my opinion are skipping
and drugs. Kids are more interested in skipping class and smoking pot than
coming to classes and getting a good education. Kids, like myself, who
attend classes every day possible, are shunned for being "un-cool" and are
not allowed to be part of any kind of group.

If schools would enforce more strict penalties on students who do this,
like actual jail time, I would bet that skipping and drug related incident
would be less frequent and there would be improved attendance and grades at
our schools.

Daniel Galea,

Cookstown