Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jul 2003
Source: Marlborough Express (New Zealand)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers Limited 2003
Contact: 03 578 0497
Website: http://www.marlboroughexpress.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1139
Author: Staff Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUGS SEARCH AT BOYS' COLLEGE

All junior pupils at Marlborough Boys' College were checked for drugs
yesterday following concerns from staff that drugs might be on the
site.

Marlborough Boys' College principal John Rodgers said several police
officers were called into the school with a police dog to sniff out
potential drug stashes.

It came after four students were suspended last term for taking
marijuana to a school camp at Lake Rotoiti, although Mr Rodgers said
that had not been the incident which sparked yesterday's
investigation.

He said no drugs were found, but the school had a policy of calling in
police if staff suspected drugs were on the premises.

Junior pupils were held in assembly while the dog sniffed their bags
and around the school, Mr Rodgers said.

It was not the first time police dogs had been used at the college and
continued a policy enforced by the board of trustees this year to keep
the campus drug free.

He was not aware of any problems with hard drugs at the school, but
said it had a responsibility to keep its students safe from the
potential dangers of all drugs.

Mr Rodgers said he was pleased nothing had been found but added the
school would take a serious view of any student caught dealing or
carrying drugs into the college.

A Southland school came under fire at the end of last term for
suspending, then expelling a student caught using marijuana outside
its grounds and out of school hours.

Mr. Rodgers said the issue of student drug use away from school was an
interesting one in terms of jurisdiction.

"Should a school take an interest or walk away (in that situation)?
It's a bit of a moral dilemma ... but in my experience getting caught
brings the matter to a head and makes (the student) make a choice."

Most staff and pupils at the college were not aware that the police
raid was due to happen yesterday.

"There's no possibility that the boys would have got wind of it. The
staff weren't even briefed."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin