PARENTS FIGHT KIDS' SUSPENSIONS FOR SMOKING POT

PARENTS of five Lavallee School pre-teens suspended for a week after they
bought and smoked marijuana off school property plan legal action to clear
their children's academic records.

"They have these files that say they were trafficking or under the
influence," said one mother yesterday. "They didn't even have any evidence
the kids were even doing anything. All they had was this one baggie -- it
could have had anything in it."

Two mothers said yesterday they were furious that the five children were
questioned March 8 by school officials without parents' knowledge, then
sent home with letters.

The mothers said the four girls and one boy bought a one-gram bag of
marijuana from another student, who had obtained it from her older sister.
They smoked the marijuana nearby, but local merchants and other unknown
witnesses called the school and reported their names.

"We feel their rights were violated. That's why we're considering legal
action," the first mother said.

"The total suspension was just based on hearsay. They weren't caught with
anything," said the second mother.

"For stuff to remain on their record is just unacceptable. That's not
something I want my daughter to go into junior high or high school with --
she'll always be watched, and treated differently."

Lynda Baxter, assistant superintendent for Louis Riel School Division, said
yesterday that the Public Schools Act gives principals and other
administrators the right to interview students and investigate incidents
without parents present. "'In loco parentis' means schools have to be able
to talk to students," Baxter said. "In all cases, you try and notify the
parents.

"Certainly, the school undertook a fairly intensive process," she said.

But, the first mother said, "They badgered the kids and got them to
confess. They took them out of class, and badgered them in a good cop, bad
cop kind of way."

She said the families and their kids are now getting counselling through
Addictions Foundation Manitoba, adding that the children admitted to school
officials and to their parents that they had smoked dope. "Yes, she (her
daughter) said they had purchased marijuana in (the baggie) from another
child who attended that school. (The empty baggie) was found in my
daughter's possession, in her backpack, I think," said the first mother.

Added the second mother: "They admitted to that. They bought it for
personal use, and personal use only."

Baxter said Lavallee's parent council has supported the division's actions.
Suspending the children was a one-time event that should help them in the
long run, she said, adding that she doubted the suspenion notation in the
kids' academic records would hurt them in high school. Baxter said
university admissions officers don't look for elementary school discipline
records.

"It was done in trying to move the children ahead in a positive fashion.
The school was both responsible in dealing with a tough issue, yet
sensitive to particular needs. Schools are about kids growing up -- it's
not where the world ends," said Baxter.

The first mother said the kids named students who are dealing, but said
only the five children have been disciplined.

The five kids have returned to class.