MELTON: EXPOSURE TO DRUGS UNAVOIDABLE FOR KIDS IN STATE

MBN Head's Words Bring Mom To Tears

Parent University speaker Frank Melton brought Mildred Spencer to tears
Monday night.

And after Melton's talk to about 300 parents, teachers and students at
Hattiesburg High School, Spencer hurried outside to catch him.

"I didn't want him to leave without letting him know how much I appreciate
what he said about not making excuses for your child and not letting your
child get involved with thugs," said Spencer, 32, who has two children who
attend Hattiesburg Public School District. "I actually had tears in my eyes
because some of the things he said were right on target."

Melton, director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, spoke for more
than a half hour about parental involvement, drug use among children and
how students can be successful in school.

"Outside the threat of terrorism, the number one problem facing our
children in the state of Mississippi is the illegal consumption and illegal
distribution of drugs," he said. "There is a 100 percent chance that your
children and my children will be exposed to illegal drugs. The greatest
asset you and I have now, and we will ever have, is our children and we
must protect that asset."

Melton said 97 percent of the kids in the state are good, decent children
who are trying to do the right thing.

"The problem is that much of our focus has been on that other 3 percent who
have decided to do something else," he said. "We need to protect those 97
percent of children who want to live a successful, decent life."

Strong parents, followed by strong teachers, administrators and community
members will raise strong kids, Melton said.

"What kids need more than anything else in this world from us is structure,
structure and structure," he said. "In order to succeed, kids need to have
both a brain and a heart and both must be working at the same time. As
parents, teachers, community leaders, we have done a wonderful job in
developing their minds, but when it comes to developing their hearts, we
have failed miserably."

Melton said children should put their energy in four areas - faith in God,
faith in family, getting a quality education and volunteerism.

"The reason for volunteerism is because it is the quickest way to develop
the heart, to go out and do something else for another human being," he
said. "Nothing is more rewarding than that."

This year's Parent University, which was sponsored in part by the
Hattiesburg Public School District and Pine Grove Recovery Center, was held
three months earlier than in previous years and did not include a series of
workshops as in years past.

Previous speakers have included Bernice King, daughter of slain civil
rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and educational consultant Stedman
Graham.

Melton, who was appointed as the state's drug chief by Gov. Ronnie Musgrove
in December 2002, was chosen to be the keynote speaker because of his
dedication to youth, said Hattiesburg Superintendent James Davis. "He had a
very strong, outstanding message and I hope the parents who heard it will
take it to heart," Davis said.

Tab Buchanan said she will make sure her 14-year-old daughter, Sharol, a
Hattiesburg High freshman, hears Melton's message.

"I'm going to get the tape of what he said and sit down as a family so my
daughter will be able to get his message," Buchanan said. "I was very
impacted by what he had to say and I want her to feel the same way."