Source: Evening News, Norwich (UK)

Pub Date: Monday November 23 1998

PUB LTE: There are far more serious offences

Author: Melissa Dawson

I was shocked to read that the headteacher of Earlham High thinks "carrying drugs should be seen as the highest level of offence" within his school and that people caught with drugs should face permanent exclusion.

Surely violence, verbal abuse and general disruption are all more serious issues?

If students are found to possess a drug then, yes, they may need help reassessing their lives and motivation but simply "carrying" a drug effects no one within the school except the individual, and they should not be punished for it.

It is akin to punishing teachers, not for offering pupils cigarettes but for bringing a packet into work with them!

As for excluding pupils from school, this is down right malicious. Instead of taking action to prevent the problems associated with drug use occurring, Tom Samain seems determined to excarcberate the situation as much as possible.

Does he think that barring his pupils from school and crippling their job prospects is going to help them?

I also think the possibility of drug testing within the school environment is a disgusting invasion of privacy.

The result will be higher truancy and exclusion rates at school, paranoia, worse job prospects, and absolutely no respect for the people that are teaching them.

Melissa Dawson.