So the parent can be fined if a student is late, is not punctual, or does not attend regularly or punctually. How many times does a student have to be late before a charge is laid? I'm just curious. You get into that whole issue of process, and who sets the process for conviction.

Thank you. This is a penalty clause, and it says that every person who fails to comply with section 27.(2) is guilty of an offence. Section 27.(2) refers to a parent of a student, so I assume that the parent can be fined. Is that the only person who can be fined under this particular clause?

Just a question on using the word "16 year." Is that consistent with other clauses?

I raise that because in clause 28, again, there's a very definite clause there in terms of anybody who doesn't comply with 27.(2) is guilty of an offence. I think I'll make some comments when we get to that one, but there are definite responsibilities and I think the comments made about preventative work warrant some consideration. I know we're limited again by budgets and the amount of staff that we can have doing this type of work but I think it has to be considered when dealing with the act. Thank you.

Thank you. I agree with the intent of the act that it should be definitive in the actions that one should take, but if the act is to be more permissive and open in dealing with students, I believe the presentation made by the Status of Women made a good point. We always seem to discipline someone after the damage has been done, after they have been away for a long time, for example, and we don't do any preventative work upfront. The Status of Women, in their presentation to the Standing Committee on Legislation, said there should be an obligation for the school to contact the parent or student when there is prolonged absence or poor attendance.

Another area of concern was the lack of counselling support for students. They said, "contact and follow-up is often not made until the student is experiencing major difficulties with attendance and/or behaviour. There is nothing in the bill to define the role of a counsellor or to require provision of counselling by education bodies." Again, in this act there is a specific section that refers to the principal and I assume by referring to the principal, we refer to him or his subordinates. It's just a point that I thought was worthwhile raising; the Status of Women raised it. The Status of Women raised it and it's worthy of comment. I'm not sure ... Maybe it's already in here or maybe there's something we can add to strengthen this section. Thank you.

I would just like to make a few comments on this section, parents' participation. It pertains to both clauses 25 and 26. There have already been many changes to these sections dealing with parents' participation, and I would like to make a few more comments on this issue.

I believe that today many parents have abrogated their responsibilities for their children; that is, it seems that many parents just don't care. They don't care about what happens to their children once their children leave home. I believe they feel that school is like a babysitting establishment and once a child is there it is up to the teachers and the principals to look after that child.

This shouldn't be the case. I believe parents have to care and they have to get involved in the education of their children. Many years ago, there used to be home and school associations which were quite active in the running and the activities in the schools, and these have eventually changed to community education councils, now to be known as district education authorities. Today, there are very rarely elections held for education councils. Most members are acclaimed or they get appointed to fill the vacancies. In this act, a lot of authority and responsibility will be given to the education authorities.

Therefore, it is in the interests of parents to get involved in the governance of our education system. Parents can no longer sit back and complain. To make changes or guide the process of education, you must get involved.

I would also like to comment about the responsibilities of parents to get involved in school activities by volunteering. This is not in the act, but I believe it should be mentioned. I know that many times school activities have been cancelled because they don't have enough supervisors or chaperones. Mr. Chairman, parents have to get more involved in their children's activities, many of which happen through the school. By volunteering for school activities, chaperoning dances, trips, sporting events, outings and the various clubs in the schools, they get to appreciate the qualities of their children, of the teachers and of the whole education system. Another area which should be mentioned was raised by the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 in their presentation to the committee; that is, we have rights as parents to participate, and sections 25 and 26 outline those, but we don't have any clauses that outline the consequences if they do not respond to what's in the act. I'll quote from Yellowknife Education District No. 1, " Educators must have the right and opportunity to appeal parental actions if they feel that they are not in the best educational interests of the child. The rights and responsibilities must be equal and reciprocal."

So, Mr. Chairman, these are some of the comments I wish to make respecting the roles and responsibilities of parents. Mahsi.

Here, the student has been selected by the principal or under rules selected by the principal. I assume that the student's peers would select the representative but under the rules made by the principal, and then the student can now attend public meetings of the district authority. Again, I raise the same question, what about attending, as a student rep, divisional education council meetings?

I agree.

The other point I would like to make, again, is qualifications, and the big qualification is that the principal shall set the guidelines. Does the guidelines set by the principal, only pertain to the selection of the student rep or is it to the participation of the student rep in the district education authority meetings? Principals don't have any authority at the DEA level. I would like clarification there.