GOOD LESSON FOR STUDENTS

The use of drugs among young people is a serious issue and it takes serious
measures to deal with it, says Stuart Auty, president of the Canadian Safe
Schools Network.

Auty said periodic checks involving police dogs is a good way to discourage
students from bringing drugs to school.

"For the student population, it's a wake-up call when they see dogs going
through on a lockdown, searching their lockers," he said. "Drugs and drug
use in schools is on the increase and I can understand a school principal
being concerned about it. I think (the lockdowns are) a statement to the
kids and I think it's a statement that says: 'Hey wait a minute. Is this a
good idea to be taking drugs?' "

Auty said such measures won't prevent students from doing drugs, but it can
help get it away from schools, and that's a big part of the battle.

He acknowledged the process can lead to innocent students being punished,
as 15-year-old Chris Laurin says is his case.

But Auty said because minors are required by law to be in school, more
vigilance is required to keep them safe than in places where it is an
individual's choice whether or not to be there.

A positive to come out of the Laurin controversy, Auty added, is that
teachers and students are talking about drugs and that's an important part
of the education process.

"Too often we have kids experimenting (with drugs) at a very young age and
getting hooked without really understanding what they're doing," he said.