DARE HELPS STUDENTS LEARN TO TRUST POLICE

Editor:

"What day is it today?" the RCMP officer asks.

"It's DARE day," the students enthusiastically respond.

This is how Const. Kate Bamber starts each week's lesson on Drug
Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) topics. Her enthusiasm adds to
the success of the 17-week program. Students are all equally as
enthusiastic.

Other parts of the program which make it great for young people are
the opportunities to talk openly about how they could deal with
problems involving drugs, violence or bullying. They actually
practise making effective responses in hypothetical situations.

I like the focus of the lessons; they help students identify
alternatives to drug-related activities. Students start to think
about how they can make positive choices now which will affect their
future safety.

Bamber arranges for positive role models from the high school to come
into the classroom and talk to the students. They discuss how to stay
drug-free in the high school and the younger students hear about how
to manage bullies who want others to participate in undesirable
activities.

The impact of the DARE program is due, in a large part, to the fact
it is an RCMP officer conducting the discussions. Students get to
know a police officer and develop a relationship which is not based
on fear, but on respect and understanding of what an officer's job is
like. Students are given firsthand information about the law; it
could not be shared in a more meaningful way than by an RCMP officer.
It is very encouraging to know the RCMP recognizes the value of
initiating a program which is preventive in its nature. It shows such
faith in our youth.

The parents at my school were instrumental in requesting the DARE
program for our school and we're pleased they took the initiative to
do so. I look forward to the continuation of the DARE program in the
following years. Keep up the great work, Const. Bamber and other DARE
presenters.

Ann Marie Hunter

Grade 5/6 teacher

Westmount Elementary