During her report to the Prince Rupert School District Board of Education, assistant superintendent Leah Robinson provided a list of suspensions so far in the 2008/2009 school year - A list dominated by students being suspended
for the use of marijuana.

Of the 52 suspensions handed down so far this year, 30 have been for marijuana use. Of those 30, 20 have involved Aboriginal students while 23 have involved male students.

Under board policy, each suspension related to substance abuse requires a re-entry meeting involving the student, the parents, the principal and the assistant superintendent, with the final call on re-entry being left to the assistant superintendent. Of the 30 suspensions for marijuana use, only four students have been denied re-entry into school.

"We try to have a restorative approach. We come here and all get to talk about it.Most of the time that is enough to get the student to stop," said Robinson.

"We are actively engaged in helping our students to make better decisions."

A total of 72 per cent of the suspensions, which also include suspensions for fighting, behavior and alcohol, have involved male students, and Robinson noted that the data related to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal student suspensions are similar to the make-up of the district itself.

"It is an issue for all families, not just Aboriginal families.It is an issue for all students in the district," she said, noting that grade 10 has the highest number of suspensions of all the high school grades.

According to Robinson, the data was broken out into Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students at the request of the Aboriginal Education Council.

Trustees have now asked Robinson for information related to elementary school suspensions as well.

© 2004 H.U.M.A.N.: Hemp Users Medical Access Network - Toronto Medical Marijuana