CN BC: Students Skip Out On Special Day For Dope
This makes me laugh.....except for the gun part.
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n738/a01.html
Newshawk: Herb
Pubdate: Wed, 25 Apr 2001
Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Maple Ridge News
Contact: editor@mapleridgenews.com
Website: http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328
Author: Karin Mark
STUDENTS SKIP OUT ON SPECIAL DAY FOR DOPE
The date April 20 has links to drug use, Adolph Hitler's birthday and the
1999 massacre at Columbine High.
Locally, it was a reason for dozens of students at Pitt Meadows secondary
and Westview secondary to skip out of school.
As many as 160 students at the two schools took Friday off. As well,
RCMP school liaison officers were called to respond to rumours at
Thomas Haney and Westview secondary schools that someone was
bringing a gun to school.
School liaison officer Const. Andrew Tolchard said Tuesday he was
disappointed so many parents were fearful enough to let their children stay
home from school yet few contacted the authorities about their concerns.
The date April 20 has taken on urban legend status, being tagged with
issues such as:
* the trend for grads to take a mass skip-out day,
* the 4:20 phenomenon
* the saying is that 4:20 is a good time to smoke pot, and April 20 is
national marijuana day because it's 4/20 all day,
* the day two students turned their guns on their peers at Columbine High
in Colorado in 1999; and
* Adolph Hitler?s birthday in 1889.
Tolchard said the skip outs at Westview seemed to be linked to the
Columbine issue, while those at Pitt Meadows seemed to have more to do
with spending a nice day at Alouette Lake.
Principals at Maple Ridge, Garibaldi and Thomas Haney reported no
unusual absences, but Tolchard said most local high schools had to remove
4:20 propaganda. The reference has also shown up in graffiti around
town.
"There was some effort by a small group to make this into a bigger event
than it was", Tolchard said.
Pitt Meadows secondary is handing out one-day suspensions to those who
skipped out. On Monday and Tuesday, principal Wes Thomas was talking
to the 60 Grade 12 students who missed school Friday to determine if their
reasons were legitimate. He also spoke to the entire grad class Monday.
The school has 211 grads, of which 15 might normally be away on any
given day.
While it may seem odd to give students a day off for skipping out, Thomas
said suspension is the ultimate penalty for a student and may actually
prevent some from taking part in their graduation ceremonies.
Local high schools prohibit grads from joining in the ceremonies if they
miss more than 15 days of school with no legitimate reason. Thomas
includes suspensions in that number even though they're school imposed,
they're student earned, but said he also allows students to make up the
missed hours.
"I believe in fairness and I believe this is fair," Thomas said. "If they
decide to skip out then they earned that suspension."
The 1,035-student Westview secondary had more than 100 students away
in all grades on Friday, although most were in Grade 9. Principal Claire
Guy said the absent students would not be suspended, mainly because they
had their parents' consent. However, the few students who were caught
starting and spreading the rumours have been disciplined.
"We take that very seriously," she said.
Tolchard said the April 20 phenomenon is fueled by baseless rumours, and
it's sad that past events continue to have a negative influence.
"Parents have to understand we're different here than the United States,"
Tolchard said, noting the presence of school liaison officers. "The schools
are open and they are safe places for them to be probably the safest
place."
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager
I can just see the national post version of this:
"Students smoke pot and brandish guns to celebrate hitler's birthday! Beware the evil of the 420 beast!"
"I have struggled against tyranny. I didn't do that in order to substitute another." Desmond Tutu
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The grade nine kids are revolting! Hitler!Pot!420!
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