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The Canadien Champion, Tueeday, Octobe 26, 1999 -6 Most students suspended either in Grade 9 or 10 from STUDENTS' on page 1 about 100 per year since 1994-95. Bryn Davies, now the supervising principal of the hoard's Aduit Education Centre out of General Brock High School, was the principal at Brock st year when hie levied 390 student suspen- sions to top the liat. Georgetown District (148), White Qaka/General Wolfe of Oakville (148), E. C. Dnsry and M. M. Robinson (126) were the next highest. ."Most of the suspended students were in Grade 9 or 10 when they are moat impressionable and trying to impress their peers and adust to high school," sald Mr. Davies. "'i oeally proud of our kids hecause some come with lots of baggage and we expect themn to miisbehave. We know their histo- ry,"hle said. In the elementary ranks, the 952 suspensions given to kinder- garten-Grade 8 students in Halton's 66 achools is only eclipsed by the 994 dished out in '96-97. The total for the region was just 39 in '86-87. The numbers began to rise dramnatically starting in '9- 93. Last year, 130 suspensions were handed out in Milton's eiglst public elementary schools. So, what does this tell earents, educators and the general pub- lic? Are students lesa oespectful of each other and tlseir teaclsers now than in the past? Are today's teaclsers and principals less toI- erant of perceived bad behaviour? Or is current board policy or the provincial education systemn less forgiving of malcontents? The answer, as is often the case, seems to lie somewhere in between. Mike Kasoian wasn't the principal at Brant iEls last year. But, as the current head of the Duncaster Drive K-8 school, hie sald there's a clear reason for the 110 suspensions last year - that number easily outdistanced the next highest total of 70 by Acton's MacKenzie-Smith Bennett. He has already handed out five sus- pensions this faîl. "AIl ive suspensions since the start of the new achool year have been from a class of eight students with identified behavioural problema. That's why they are in this (segregated) class," Mr. Kasoian noted. 'The identifled class lsad eight students last year and accounted for the majority of the suspensions. This year there is a new teacher, with tihe usual instructional assistant. and childlyouth counsellor and three different students" but the "challenges" remaln, hie sald. "Two kids have accounted for the five suspensions," Mr. Kasoian said, emphasizing he's not laying blamne, just stating facts. 'Mheoe's only been one physical altercation between students an fa-, they (suspensions) are mostly for (ongoing) defiance or inap- propriate language." 0f course, there is always two sides to any issue and it should be noted that 35 of the 66 elementary schools in Halton handed out fewer than 10 suspensions in '98-99. Several Burlington schools imposed zero or one suspension alI year long, including Fairfield, Champlaln, Paul A. Fisher, W. E. Breckon, Claslcsdale, Frontenac and Lakeshore. It should alan be noted student populations and grade ranges vary fromn school to sclsool. Principals have the right under the Education Act to impose stu- dent suspensions of up to 20 days for skipping class, defying authority, destroying sclsool property, swearing, or verbal or physical harasament. - When a student has,been suspended, the principal must notify, in writing, the pupil, tIse pupil's parents and teachers, and school board. An appeal can be made by thse student's parents with a sus- pension committee composed of at least tlsree board members hearing the appeal. -~- -- - [Value Pîieing &CEE VRGLET-GLDSMOBIL Fddy ........ viipm Tu . ......... u. I 1 m 9owr&y .... 4ag .... SIIINdBYff' HWY. 25 S. AT DERRY RID., MILTON -J When the region-wide statistics for 1998-99 were discussed at the school board meeting, education director Dusty Papke said sharp increases in suspensions miight be for a variety of reasons. "There is more latitude for school boards and zero-tolerance policies. We are also seeing more cases of severe discipline issues that corne to achools (fmmi the home)," hie said. "What may have been dealt with by a principal in a discussion may now be cause for an automatic suspension eitlser by policy or provincial regu!ation."_ OUL FURNACE' SALE B$100 Off . 12 Months No lnterest or; 1114.9% Financing (Up to 5 Years) a5 Years Furnace Maintenance Plan (Value of over $650) a FREE Thermostat Caot AW mad m an ail ymL hemti aou pwxhmm C#m no ta bsaam a aalsta. fl'8 FIEF- (905) 878-6380 e 1-800-465-6071