MANY STUDENTS GIVE DRUG DOG IDEA A FAILING GRADE

Drego, a drug-sniffing black Lab, is one of several dogs from Port
Coquitlam's Black Tower Security that could soon be on random patrols in
Surrey schools to detect illegal drugs in students' lockers.

Surrey School District's interest in the use of drug-sniffing dogs to nose
through lockers has brought mixed reviews from local students. "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 last
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
will just find ways to get around it."

Kevin Letourneau, manager of addiction services at Peace Arch Community
Services, said 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 totally undermines trust. And it doesn't lead to
solution in the community.

"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 the
consequences will be for youth, such as suspension or expulsion, and what
role parents will play.

Last week, Surrey School Board chair Mary Polak emphasized that
"discussions around drug-sniffing dogs or any other potential enforcement
mechanisms are in the preliminary stages.

"Extensive consultation with parents, students and other stakeholders, in
conjunction with thorough policy review and development would be essential
prior to consideration by the board," she said.

It is highly unlikely that any implementation could occur within the
current school year, Polak added.