Pubdate: Sat, 28 Aug 1999
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Author:  NADIA JAMAL

TOP SCHOOL BANS PUPILS IN ROW OVER MARIJUANA

Eleven students at a prominent eastern suburbs private school have been
suspended until 2001 for allegedly buying or selling marijuana.

The students, in Years 8, 9, 10 and 12 at Moriah College, the co-educational
Jewish school at Bondi Junction, were suspended on Thursday for five terms
after an inquiry by the school found they had breached its rules.

The principal, Mr Roy Steinman, said yesterday that the two Year 12 students
would be allowed to sit for the HSC.

"All suspensions are related to drug-related incidents which allegedly
occured on campus," he said.

The decision has caused controversy in Sydney's Jewish community, and some
rabbis were expected to address the issue in synagogues last night.

Mr Steinman said the school had agonised over the decision. The students had
not been expelled because it was their first offence.

"There had to be some kind of balance which was serious enough to give them
a message and to protect the 1,500 other children whose parents have sent
them to us in good faith and who want us to protect them from this
influence."

Mr Steinman said he understood that most of the students had found other
schools.

Rabbi Mendel Kastel, of The Great Synagogue, who was counselling one of the
students and his family, said the length of suspension was a "bit harsh" and
effectively meant expulsion.

"Ideally, I would have liked the school to be more involved in the
rehabilitation process but at the moment it doesn't look like that is their
approach."

Mr Steinman said there was no evidence that any of the students had smoked
marijuana at the school. The police had not been contacted because it was a
disciplinary matter within the school.

Moriah College said last night that it would accept the pupils back in 2001
providing there was proof of good conduct, successful academic performance,
completion of a drug awareness program, and contrition.

In March, nine girls at Pymble Ladies' College were expelled after allegedly
possessing, buying or dealing in marijuana.

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