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21 Lothian pupils suspended for being drunk at school

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Published Date: 22 November 2008
By Ian Swanson
TWENTY-ONE pupils in Lothian have been suspended after being found drunk in school.
Today one MSP said the "shocking" figures showed the depth of society's problem with alcohol.

Latest figures show six youngsters were temporarily excluded from Edinburgh schools in 2006-07 for alcohol misuse, with another ten in West Lothian.

The figure suggests the problem, which had been showing signs of improvement, is getting worse again – the total temporary exclusions from Lothian schools had gone down from 28 in 2003-04 to 15 the following year, and just four the year after that, before leaping to the latest total of 21.

Lothians Tory MSP Gavin Brown said: "I am absolutely shocked by these figures.

"For a while it had looked as though the problem of alcohol misuse in the city's schools was being tackled, but unfortunately we have now seen a sharp rise in the number of pupils being excluded as a result of alcohol misuse."

The figures were released in a parliamentary answer to Mr Brown from Schools Minister Maureen Watt.

Edinburgh's education convener Marilyne MacLaren said: "Education on substance misuse is currently ongoing in our schools.

Our policy for dealing with drug related incidents in schools is also currently being updated."

A West Lothian Council spokesman added that the council had a "clear and robust" policy on substance misuse in schools.

"Our priority is to ensure that young people have effective drugs and alcohol education.

"Individual incidents are managed by headteachers. Sanctions may include exclusion in more serious cases. The number and seriousness of such incidents varies from year to year."

A Scottish Government pokeswoman said the school curriculum aimed to ensure that all young people were made aware of the implications of using and abusing alcohol.

She added: "Many of the cheapest alcohol products are sold at 'pocket money prices' which attract young people looking to buy the highest quantity for the lowest cost. This is why the Scottish Government has put forward a series of bold and innovative approaches aimed at tackling alcohol misuse across society, including among young people."


Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 22 November 2008 10:41 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Brian Hill,

Edinburgh 22/11/2008 12:00:08
"Today one MSP said the "shocking" figures showed the depth of society's problem with alcohol."

Surely the problem is not the alcohol or indeed the violence or anti social behaviour often springs from it but the deep rooted unhappiness and alienation from society that so many of our young people feel which causes these problems in the first place.

But then, clamping down on alcohol is so much easier (though less productive) than tackling the reasons behind youth unhappiness and feelings of alienation.
2

Unimpressed one,

22/11/2008 12:17:01
More fuel for McAskill to restructure our supermarkets.
3

alex paterson,

edinburgh 22/11/2008 12:18:19
Got to be something wrong with a kid when they need a drink to face a day at school,but some of the teachers would drive you to drink.
4

Arrow,

edinburgh 22/11/2008 12:27:43
parental and personal responsibility? self control? Naw! the Government/Cooncil/polis/ or somebody should dae somethin' eh but no me masel personally ken. but 'n that.
5

Niko Bellic,

22/11/2008 12:30:45
In my day it was drugs. See, the world is getting better.
6

Pocket Dictionary,

22/11/2008 13:40:25
It's not supermarkets that are the problem but councils handing out booze licences to local stores like confetti at a wedding.

In a half mile radius of the local high school there are several off-licence stores. I get badgered constantly by kids outside them wanting me to buy booze for them and then verbal abuse when I refuse. Stop handing out all these off licences.
7

James (1),

22/11/2008 13:41:53
We should give the kids cash rewards for telling the authorities where they are getting the booze.
Then target those shops.
8

Toast,

22/11/2008 14:18:31
Gavin Strand is shocked,what planet does he live on,I'm amazed it is so few,mind you when we see our MP
's and MSP's drinking in subsidised bars during working hours what sort of message does this send,any person consuming alchol during their working day should be dismissed instantly,[this would seriously reduce public sector numbers]
9

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 22/11/2008 15:17:40


"Today one MSP said the "shocking" figures

Hadley "Socking", get a life!

21 out off how many? 100,000s? So the real truth is the "figure" is 'minute', and that my friend, you will NEVER change, those that are determined, WILL drink and smoke and take drugs, maybe not all three, but you get the just.


10

,

22/11/2008 15:40:02
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
11

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 22/11/2008 15:47:55

Niko Bellic ~10,

:))

12

The Ayrshire Bard,

22/11/2008 16:08:11
Political correctness in the past years has made it almost impossible to recruit men into helping out in organisations such as the BB and Scouts. Youth clubs are almost non-existent so too many youngsters have few role models to look up to. Without leadership they will have no moral guidance and will grow up to be total losers.
13

Pocket Dictionary,

22/11/2008 16:26:40
What action will they take against the incompetent parents who let their kids do these things?
14

EnEm,

EDINBURGH 23/11/2008 05:59:02
Why do I get the feeling that "bold and innovative approaches aimed at tackling alcohol misuse" just means putting the prices up.
15

Charles IIIX,

23/11/2008 08:49:20
This is a simple shock tactic of anti-alcohol to justify more tax and further 'controls' to turn us all into compliant automatons of the state. It is a repeat of the anti-smoking campaign.
The real problem is that the state has usurped the power of discipline from parents and teachers. If teachers had the discretion to disciple children in a manner they consider appropriate (rather than what the state dictates)There would not be a problem.
16

Bibamus,

23/11/2008 08:55:24
#12 Spot on !

17

Charles IIIX,

23/11/2008 09:00:14
#7
I believe that kids like these were called 'Hitler youth' in an earlier age and in an increasingly similar society to ours today!
18

bluehead,

edinburgh 23/11/2008 11:15:57
perhaps they were driven to drink through listening to Gordon Brown's speeches,his very presence some times makes people feel that they are in a very strange world.
19

me150,

23/11/2008 12:41:00
Attitudes, laws and legislation prevents parents from being able to take effective measures against their children. There are thousands of parents who have limited or no control due to legislation being too tight and mostly because most parents don't give a damn setting a precident for the children of the parents who do. The run to the police attitude of kids nowadays if a parent even considers anything more than a how dare you comment is ridiculous. We are breeding a tribe of kids who expect everything and when they don't get it the SHI T hits the fan big style and parents are totally powerless to do anything about it.

Also has anyone else noticed that since the increase in 'education' on issues of sex, drink, drugs etc that there has been an increase in misuse by exactly the ones targeted by the policies. It seems too much knowledge is having the opposite effect than expected. Maybe time to dumb it down a bit and see what happens as the current methods are a shambles.
20

DeniseX,

23/11/2008 13:48:08
I reckon some of the teachers were 'fuming'.
21

Mr Fuzzy,

Edinburgh 23/11/2008 17:32:03
#12
It is not only the background screening, the problem is that the kids will run wild in these activities, ignore any requests the adults make if not speak back rudely.

It goes back to their parenting.
22

Uncle Piehead,

24/11/2008 00:21:50
#23

"Local schoolkinds staggering all over the place every lunchtime"

This just isn't true. Either you're the one that's had a few bevvies or (more likely) you're in desparate need of psychiatric help.

You are an inveterate weirdo, with incessant and worrying issues regarding physical pain.

Or you're just having a laugh. If it's the latter, stop now, because nobody's laughing.

If it's the former, call the NHS helpline. Now.


 

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