Pubdate: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 Source: Age, The (Australia) Copyright: 1999 David Syme & Co Ltd Contact: http://www.theage.com.au/ Author: Carolyn Jones RANDOM DRUGS TESTS AT ELITE COLLEGE The exclusive private school Geelong Grammar is to introduce random drug tests for students suspected of using illicit drugs. In what is believed to be a first for any Australian school, students caught using drugs or thought to be using drugs at the Victorian co-educational boarding college will be subjected to random urine tests and room searches as part of a new "second chance" drug policy. Students caught trafficking in drugs still face automatic expulsion, but those who admit to using drugs or who are caught using drugs for the first time will be placed on a program of counselling, regular drug screening and rehabilitation. The policy - developed in consultation with parents, students, teachers, Victoria Police and the medical community - gives the school's principal, Mr Lister Hannah, the power to request the urine tests. Previously, Geelong Grammar students found to be using drugs were automatically expelled. School policies attracted controversy earlier this year when nine students from Sydney's Pymble Ladies College were expelled for smoking marijuana. The action was supported by the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, who called on schools to adopt a "black and white" attitude and expel students caught taking drugs. But many educators condemned automatic expulsion as inappropriate and offensive. Mr Hannah said the school's drug-free policy was an acknowledgment that its former "head in the sand" approach had not worked because it failed to differentiate among students caught supplying drugs, those who were repeat users and first-time users. "It did little to rehabilitate students who were at risk of becoming chronic users and certainly did nothing to involve the school in the process," he said. "It was also seen to punish truthfulness." Mr Hannah said the school had trialled the urine tests at its senior year 10, 11 and 12 Corio campus. He confirmed he had expelled two students for drug use in the past three years. The executive director of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, Mr Terry Chapman, said he was surprised by the news and was unaware of any proposals to test students for illegal drugs in NSW. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea