Suspending students' drivers licence 'a last resort'

BY HEIDI ULRICHSEN

The provincial government passed a law this week which involves a number of measures to keep students in school until they are 18, including taking away their driver's licenses.

Suspending dropouts' driver's licenses is intended to be used as a last resort. Only truancy court judges would have the power to take away driver's licenses.

Other penalties can also be imposed, including fines of up to $1,000 for truant students and their parents, as well as employers who hire students during school hours.

The law raising mandatory school attendance from the age of 16 to 18 comes into effect this week.

But the measure allowing courts to impose penalties for truant students doesn't come into effect until sometime next year, when the government's new learning
opportunities are available to all students.

The government is luring teens back to class by offering them alternative programs that give them extra help and focus on trades like hospitality, health care, technology and computer engineering.

Richard Poirier is the principal of Ecole Cap Sur L'Avenir, a French public alternative school in Greater Sudbury catering to about 50 students who aren't doing well in traditional high schools.

He's happy the government is introducing programs to keep kids in school, but doesn't think taking away their driver's license is going to make much difference.

“It might be a good deterrent. But at least half of the kids that end up in my school aren't driving. The ones that are not driving couldn't care less. It might not be the solution for them or the motivation.”

The measure would only affect 16 and 17 year olds in the first place, he says. Once the students turn 18, they can get their driver's licenses without being in school.

“Is that going to ruin their future careers and mark them for the rest of their lives? I don't know,” he says.

“There are northern communities where there isn't the nice Sudbury transit going around every half an hour. These kids may need a vehicle for transportation more than city kids. That may be a problem for them because all of these kids are starting to work young.”

Poirier says students at his school do courses through correspondence so they can learn at their own rate. They also have access to welding and shop classes through College Boreal and some interest classes like art.

The media should focus on the new programs to keep teens in school rather than the new measure to suspend driver's licenses, says Anna Barsanti, the student success leader for the Rainbow District School Board.

“There's only a small percentage of students who would ever end up in that place. It is only going to be a last effort,” she says.

“Right now, it's all about re-engaging. It's about coming back to where we can stimulate these kids and get them on their way to getting their diploma.”

Rainbow board schools offer programs where students can learn trade skills at Cambrian College, earn a business certificate, do an apprenticeship and get extra help in academic classes, she says.

“Up until 18, the government is saying we want to take care of you and support you to the best of their ability so you get that diploma.”