DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS IN SCHOOLS CAUSE FOR CONCERN

Surrey School District's plan to hire drug-sniffing dogs to nose through
lockers brought mixed reviews from students Thursday.

"It's depriving your privacy in a sense," Semiahmoo Secondary student
Heather Vybiral said. "But in another way, you shouldn't have that stuff
anyway. It's a safety issue."

"It's violation of privacy," Semi senior Stephanie Ogden said. "It's going
way too far. What's next--metal detectors?"

The concept of a random dog patrol for Surrey high schools was raised this
week by Surrey's drug-crime task force, a 27-member group looking for ways
to reduce substance abuse and related crime in the city.

The suggestion accompanied that of random searches by principals, as well
as a `no-tolerance' policy in regards to students caught with drugs. All in
the name of creating and maintaining a drug-free atmosphere for education.

Not likely, a group of Earl Marriott seniors said.

"It's not going to solve the problem at all," Tiare Wilson offered. "People
are not going to stop it just because dogs are coming around," Kristin
Blizard agreed.

Kevin Letourneau, manager of addiction services at Peace Arch Community
Services, warned dog patrol is ground that should be tread carefully.

While it may help prevent drugs from entering the school, it could
backfire. For example, if a dog picked up lingering scent of drugs that may
have been in a student's locker or clothes some time ago.

And the move could impact relationships between students and administrators.

"If it's just done without consultation...it doesn't lead to further
trust," Letourneau said.

"It goes back to the whole argument, how much authority should authority
figures have?" He pointed to B.C. Ferries' now-defunct idea of having dogs
sniff through its car decks for passengers carrying illegal substances.

"Some people saw that as a real invasion of privacy that went way over the
line," he said. Other factors that need to be taken into consideration are
what will be the consequences for youth--will they go beyond a suspension
or expulsion to actually determine the root of the problem; and, what role
will parents play?

On the up side, broaching this with students could create "a great
opportunity to foster dialogue with youth," Letourneau said.

They may have better ideas for how to deal with the problem. Perhaps
students would prefer establishing an anonymous way of flagging dealers,
Letourneau said.

Whatever the case, it's an issue that demands both attention and respect,
Elgin Park principal Rick Fabbro said.

"I always feel an obligation...that as responsible parents and educators,
yeah, we need to be doing something about it. We can't pretend it doesn't
happen," he said.

"At the same time, we have to remember that we're dealing with people, and
people have to be treated with dignity and respect."