The first-ever look at discipline rates in the province's largest board also reveals that while there is a wide discrepancy, suspension rates, for anything from swearing to assault, are actually on the decline. This decrease also holds true for other boards in the GTA. The new data, released yesterday, make it possible for parents to compare schools, which "is very powerful," said Toronto Trustee Bruce Davis. "It means we know the size of the problem, we know where there are problems. It doesn't tell us exactly what the problem is, but it allows us to focus." Suspension rates have been controversial since the province introduced the Safe Schools Act in 2000. Criticized for being too tough on students for even the slightest infraction, the act was also the subject of a review by the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which supported complaints it was being used to discriminate against black students and other minorities. Some of the highest suspension rates in the 2004-05 school year were in technical high schools and schools with high numbers of special-needs students, as well as in areas designated as high risk by the city. While some schools issued no suspensions, 16 Toronto schools had suspension rates of more than 20 per cent for the 2004-05 school year. Eastdale Collegiate Institute, near Gerrard St. E. and Pape Ave., had the highest rate last year of 56 per cent - or 175 suspensions handed out to 91 of its 160 pupils. However, when comparing numbers between September and February of last year to the current school year, the number of suspensions has dropped from 46 per cent to 23 per cent. Across the board, expulsions are down 11 per cent and suspensions are down 17 per cent this year, Toronto education director Gerry Connelly told a news conference yesterday. Last year, the board's overall suspension rate was 5.6 per cent - or 15,699 students out of 280,400. The number of suspended students between September and February fell from 9,955 last year to 8,352 this year. Bullying and misconduct, persistent opposition to authority and fighting are the most frequent causes of suspensions; more than 75 per cent of suspensions and expulsions are issued to boys and 20 per cent of students suspended are sent home more than once. In the Toronto public board, 93 per cent of suspensions were for five days or less.

Officials at the Toronto Catholic board, and the public and Catholic boards in York and Peel also reported declining rates. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board issued 7,048 suspensions last year, about 500 fewer than the previous year. The York Region District School Board reported 6,754 suspensions last year, 200 fewer than the previous year. "It's all about the culture in the school. We have a lot of new principals. It's all about what happens. Some principals are very creative in getting additional resources. Proactive programs can make a tremendous difference," Connelly said. "My gut tells me that because we have been able to add the programs, we're not sending students home as often." Eastdale C.I. principal Tim Kearns has a tough student population, with about 75 per cent of his students coming from another high school. Often their families are highly transient, with 42 per cent moving some time during the school year. Being able to provide courses and programs that encourage students who are often struggling has reduced behavioural issues significantly, he said. In particular, the Ontario literacy course, for students who can't pass the Grade 10 provincial test that is required to graduate, "gives them an opportunity to get something crucial for graduation under their belts." School officials say administrators have had more training and experience in meting out the discretionary parts of the law. But they caution the numbers alone don't tell how safe or well-disciplined schools are. One fight involving many students can skew a school's rates, said senior officials at the York board, where all suspended students are given schoolwork or immediately enrolled in alternative programs rather than staying at home for extended periods. "We have what we believe is a unique approach to discipline. Our kids aren't out on the street," said Bob Harper, co-ordinating superintendent of education. Toronto Trustee Stephnie Payne said her Jane and Finch-area schools have some of the highest suspension rates, and she hopes the numbers will force the board "to do the right thing, to do an inclusive curriculum and provide the schools like Brookview (Middle School) in the area with an Afrocentric program and see how we can keep these students." Toronto lawyer Selwyn Pieters, who has represented about 150 suspended and expelled students in the past year, most of them black, said throwing students out of school serves them up to gangs. If suspensions are down, he believes it's because of pressure from the courts and human rights commission. In some cases, he said, principals send students home but don't document it. Sandra Pupatello, Ontario's new education minister, said it's clear there are real problems with the Safe Schools Act and change is on the way, pending a report this spring from the Safe School Action Team, led by MPP Liz Sandals. Government data show the number of suspensions ranged from 0.5 per cent in the York Catholic board to 36 per cent in the Superior-Greenstone board, northeast of Thunder Bay, in 2003-04.