Monday, September 06, 2004

AUSTRALIAN PARENTS DEMAND STANDARDS

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"Parents have thrown their weight behind teachers in the battle between the State Government and Victoria Point State High School over penalties for drug use. The school's Parents and Citizens Association has written to the local Labor MP John English, expressing its disappointment with the Government's refusal to expel two students caught with marijuana on the school oval.

Victoria Point principal John Corbett had recommended the Year 10 boys be expelled - a recommendation rejected by Education Queensland district director, Jan D'Arcy. Victoria Point teachers will stop work at 1.45pm today to protest at Education Queensland's "soft stance on illegal drugs in schools".....

Queensland Teachers' Union president Julie-Ann McCullough said yesterday teachers had been let down by the department. "Education Minister Anna Bligh must immediately intervene in this case and instruct her department to back the school's decision to exclude the students," Ms McCullough said.

Education Department director-general Ken Smith said the boys had already been punished with one getting a 16-day suspension and the other 20 days and directed to undertake drug counselling. "The students do not have a history of misbehaviour, so it is absolutely unwarranted for the QTU to continue with this action," Mr Smith said.

Victoria Point teachers have demanded the school's behaviour-management plan, previously endorsed by Education Queensland, be implemented.

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