NCJ Number
123199
Date Published
1988
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This document contains legal information required by Canadian educators to develop a comprehensive policy for dealing with student alcohol and drug use.
Abstract
School boards, principals, and teachers have a broad range of rights, powers, and obligations under Canadian law that give them ample legal authority to implement policies on student alcohol and drug use. This legal authority is specifically found in the Education Act, the Trespass to Property Act, and the Criminal Code. The Education Act delineates the duty of principals and teachers to maintain order and discipline and gives them power to protect school property, compel attendance, refuse access, and suspend or expel students. The Trespass to Property Act gives educators power to control who may enter and remain on school property. The Criminal Code gives private citizens, including educators, broad powers to arrest without a warrant, to use reasonable force to discipline a child, and to use reasonable force in self-defense and the defense of others. Educators are obligated, however, to adhere to appropriate recordkeeping, confidentiality, and disclosure standards. 146 endnotes.