DRUG TESTING POLICY DEFENDED

Nelson College is defending its new drug testing policy against criticism
from the Green Party, which says it breaches the law.

The Greens' education spokeswoman Metiria Turei said the policy was
dangerous, reprehensible and breached the Human Rights Act and the Bill of
Rights.

The policy was passed by the college's board of trustees last night.
Headmaster Salvi Gargiulo said it had been prepared to allow staff to test
students when they had noticed a drop in their performance.

Mrs Turei said this was an "abomination" which was aimed at developing a
climate of fear to keep students in line.

Nelson Green MP Mike Ward said he was very concerned the policy did not
address the many other pressures faced by students, such as working long
hours outside of school and family issues.

Mr Gargiulo said he could not believe the strong reaction the policy had
generated.

"I support students' rights as much as anybody, probably more than a lot,
but I just draw the line at giving them a right to destroy their lives and
brains."

Drug testing would be only a small part of the college's reaction to a drop
in students' performance, he said.

Other measures included talking to the student, offering them help from
school counsellors or outside services, taking action to reduce the
pressures they faced and group conferences with parents.

A Human Rights Commission spokeswoman said the policy was more likely to
have implications under the Bill of Rights Act, rather than the Human
Rights Act.

Mr Gargiulo said the legal advice he had been given was that the tests
could not be random, and the college had to inform parents if it wanted to
test their child but it did not have to gain their consent.

"We also have a lawyer and a woman who used to be a judge in America on our
board who've spent a lot of time on it and they think we are doing the
right thing."

Mrs Turei said she was unsure whether the Green Party would take any action
against the college under either of the acts.

It had already asked the Human Rights Commission to hold an inquiry this
year into a similar policy at Kaitaia College. She said unfortunately, the
commission had declined.

Meanwhile, Nelson MP Nick Smith said the Green Party's criticism of the
policy was similar to prostitutes giving advice on chastity.

"Drugs pose a huge risk to young people and we should support every step
taken by boards to keep their colleges drug-free," Dr Smith said.