Ask students about the zero-tolerance policy at their schools and the answers are as diverse as the teens themselves.

They'll get a chance to voice their ideas to Education Minister Gerard Kennedy when he comes to London tomorrow to gather input about the Safe Schools Act, recently characterized by New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton as the "Gang Recruitment Act."

The act, introduced by the Conservative government four years ago, imposes automatic suspensions and expulsions for offences such as assault, threats, drug possession or trafficking and carrying weapons or alcohol.

"If you get expelled for doing something bad, you'll probably just keep on doing something bad," said Danya Atta, 16, a Grade 11 student at Laurier secondary school. "They actually think being expelled is bad. I'd rather be at home than here."

The number of suspensions in Ontario shot up 40 per cent in 2001-02, the first year the law was in force.

The majority of students suspended or expelled are disabled or visible minorities, Hampton has said, something some Laurier students agreed with.

"I think in our school, it's all kinds of kids that are getting expelled, because we're pretty diverse," said Lana El Kadri, 16.

"But maybe the kids who are visible minorities are causing the problems. It won't help, though. When you're not in school, you just have more free time on your hands to do what you were doing before."

The government should come up with alternatives to being sent home, especially for offences that don't put other students at risk, like drug possession, said Astri Buchanan, 17.

"It's the law's job to send a message. The school is here to educate you," she said.

"It's totally different if you bring in drugs or if you bring in a gun. They just do it so it becomes a police problem, not a school problem."

Sending students to drug treatment or alternative schools or giving them community service time were among the students' suggestions.

"You have to think about what the problem is, because maybe if you're bringing drugs to school you've got problems at home, so they shouldn't just send you home," Atta said.