WE'RE TEACHING TEENS TO LAUGH AT AUTHORITY

Re: Greenspon calls for an end to zero-tolerance policies, March 29.

By choosing litigation before negotiation, Michel Laurin embodies a
misplaced self-righteousness that is far too common in society.

By hiring a big-shot lawyer and shamefully claiming a breach in his
democratic rights, Mr. Laurin is simply teaching his son, Chris, that he
can always get his way.

Expertly trained dogs have detected the smell of marijuana. Does he
seriously believe that owning the jacket that attracted the dogs is the
extent of his teen's actions?

If he felt cheated by the school, the best thing he could have done is act
like a civilized, intelligent parent and negotiate with his son's
principal, without involving his boy and the media in the debate. If his
efforts proved fruitless, he should have quietly agreed to disagree with
the school's decision, but accepted it gracefully, thus teaching his son
that, when authority speaks, you listen, even if you don't always agree.
This could have been a valuable way to prepare his son for the work world
and life in general.

Once again our children are taught that they can always run to their
parents, laugh in the face of authority and refuse responsibility for their
behaviour. These actions sadly undermine the efforts of our educators.

Mr. Laurin simply did not choose the right battle to teach his child about
civil liberties.

Francois-Michel Pellecuer,

Gloucester