Pubdate: Sat, 02 Jun 2007
Source: Herald Sun (Australia)
Copyright: 2007 Herald and Weekly Times
Contact:  http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/187
Author: Jane Metlikovec

TEACHERS FRISK PUPIL FOR DRUGS

TEACHERS at an eastern suburbs school have been  searching a student 
for drugs without telling his  parents.

Rowville Secondary College year 10 student Luke Murphy  has been 
searched twice in the past three weeks after  tip-offs from a fellow 
pupil. The 16-year-old was last  searched on Tuesday.

Teachers forced Luke to empty his pockets, bag and  locker, but 
didn't find drugs on either occasion.

The student who alerted teachers to the suspected drug  use had seen 
Luke's packet of hand-rolled cigarettes  and presumed he was carrying 
marijuana.

Luke told the Herald Sun he had been humiliated and was  upset by the 
situation.

"I don't know why I was targeted. I have never had  drugs on me," Luke said.

"There were quite a few students around at the lockers,  the teacher 
told them to go away but everyone knew what  it was about. I was 
pretty embarrassed."

Luke's father Steve Murphy is furious he was not  contacted by the 
school, and lodged a formal complaint  with the Department of 
Education last night.

"I know the school has an obligation to follow up on  allegations 
like this, but they could have handled it  in a very different way," 
Mr Murphy said.

"The Schools for the Future reference guide says in  such instances 
the student is to be removed, parents  are to be notified and police 
are to conduct a  confidential search.

"I want the school to give Luke a written apology and  apologise to 
him at a school assembly."

Luke also wants a formal apology.

But Rowville Secondary College principal Glenn  Fankhauser yesterday 
told the family the school would  not apologise to Luke.

He told Mr Murphy and his wife Debi he would only  apologise to them.

"He told us he would only apologise for not informing  us, and that 
in their eyes they had done no wrong by  Luke," Mr Murphy said.

Mr Fankhauser told the Herald Sun he regretted Luke's  parents had 
not been informed about the searches.

"It was a genuine oversight by the teacher involved,  and we are now 
reviewing our practices to ensure it  does not happen again," he said.

But Mr Fankhauser said the teachers followed Education  Department 
guidelines regarding what appeared to be a  genuine complaint about a 
student carrying drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman