CedarBridge's Parent-Teacher Association's estimate that 80 disruptive students need to be removed from the Island's two secondary schools is, on its face, a shocking indictment and a clear demonstration of the challenges that teachers and the many more students who want to learn have to put up with.

But it should be taken with a grain of salt. While there may be that many students who have caused problems in the past, it is likely that some of them have been following the leader. Once the real troublemakers are removed, it may be that behaviour at the school will improve.

Having said that, the Ministry of Education must monitor the situation carefully to determine if 26 places in the alternative school are indeed enough and it should also have plans to increase the number quickly if the number proves inadequate.