Editorial: One school's tough stand on cannabis

OPINION: However liberal and tolerant popular opinion is becoming towards cannabis, nobody could hope to build a convincing argument that the drug's use will ever be acceptable among school children, never mind in the school environment.

That is not to pretend youngsters can be kept away from the drug or convinced to resist its availability. But schools remain one place where, as much as they have to prepare their young charges for the realities of the world, the corrosive, demotivating influence of all drugs has to be resisted at every opportunity.

Motueka High School has sent a powerful and stiff message to that effect this week, expelling two junior pupils following a cannabis-related episode at the school. Expulsion, of course, is the most extreme disciplinary measure open to a school. Its ramifications in this case are especially significant for the children involved. Two 13-year-olds at the start of their secondary school lives have saddled themselves with a stigma to bear for years to come, and now need to find another school prepared to enrol them, an added challenge given that the next-nearest college is some 40km away in Richmond.

There may be debate about whether the school over-reacted. More hard-bitten types might wonder what the fuss is about – drugs in school, especially comparatively "soft" ones like cannabis, is hardly a new phenomenon. There have been a handful of high-profile cases in Nelson schools in recent years, and undoubtedly others that sailed under the public radar. In those cases, some pupils have been expelled, some suspended, some counselled, others handed over to the police.

Motueka High School is not revealing details of the incident which led to the expulsions, but the behaviour of the children must have been wilful. Alcohol as well as cannabis is said to have been involved, and it is alleged that one child took a parent's stash to school to share with classmates. A third pupil involved was suspended, but will be allowed to return to class.

The school board chairman, Ian Palmer, says board members "did a lot of soul-searching" before taking the action, well aware of the stakes. While the effects of the decision will be felt most by the two young people, the board must also be hoping that the point is not lost on the wider community, and that is where it really needs to be hammered home. In too many households a culture of casual drug and alcohol use is seriously messing up children's attitudes to such substances.

This week's episode comes down to another case of a school being made to respond to a bad situation not of its making and which should never have been allowed to develop. That it has taken a hard line to ram home its attitude that drugs in school are unacceptable must make some impression beyond the school gates. Sadly, it seems bound to be fleeting, beyond those most directly affected. So long as some adults continue to flagrantly expose their offspring to cannabis and alcohol as part of day-to-day life, the need for the tough sort of decisions faced at Motueka High School this week will be faced again, and again.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First

Stephen   #2   04:18 pm Apr 10 2010

Stand up for doing what is right? How is punishing people for possessing a BENEFICIAL plant, right?

mum of 4   #1   04:19 pm Mar 17 2010

Good on you Motueka High! We need more backbone in this country. There are too many wishy washy finger pointers not prepared to stand up for what is right. Keep up the good work!

Ad Feedback