to expel any student found with a weapon "or other dangerous object'' at school.

These were among many recommendations a Principals' Committee made to the Education Department in a discipline code draft obtained by The Royal Gazette .

The draft -- which was the basis for the Education Department's Code of Conduct expected to be released to schools at the end of the month -- outlined principals' views on their rights and responsibilities and those of students, parents, and teachers.

The principals' committee, chaired by Southampton Glebe Primary School head teacher Ms Esmee Williams, made it clear that they wanted to keep the school environment "conducive to learning''.

"Schools are for learning, and as such all persons directly associated with schools should be able to feel that the learning environment will be safe, secure and free of disruption,'' the committee stated.

And among its suggestions were: Immediate disciplinary action against any physical attacks by students on any person at school; Parents accept liability for "the injury or death of a student, school employee, school volunteer worker or visitor caused by the wilful misconduct of their child; The use of "reasonable'' physical restraint by teachers to protect themselves and students; and The right to search students, their lockers and/or desks if there is "reasonable'' cause.

But Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira yesterday said the draft was too "punitive'' and he had therefore asked education officers to review it.

"We've changed a lot of the wording,'' he told The Royal Gazette . "It is even being changed as of today.

"I went through it a couple of nights ago and felt that something needed to be changed to have it conformed to a code of conduct.'' Education officers were looking at ways of making the draft less "negative'', he added.

Dr. Terceira said he also found that the draft format was not consistent.

He said he hoped to get the final draft to principals by next week.

"I don't expect much in the way of change from the principals,'' he added.

"We are basically sending it out for their final approval.

"And I am going to try and get it out as an accepted document by the end of Education Month.''