DARE PROGRAM FOSTERS RELATIONSHIPS

CHESTER - The grade six class from Bayview Community School recently
visited the Chester RCMP office as part of the D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse
Resistance Education) program.

The students were able to tour the station and see a jail cell and
police car first-hand. The experience is aimed at not only preventing
students from winding up behind bars, but also fostering their trust
in the police.

Constable Paul McCallion teaches the 9-10 week classroom program,
which gives kids the tools to live productive, drug-free lives.

At the grade six level, information is "age appropriate," focusing on
the effects of cigarettes and then alcohol and marijuana.

Cst. McCallion says he doesn't "go too in depth" with information
about harder drugs at this stage, although students are given a brief
overview.

Instead, he promotes awareness and critical thinking. "We encourage
them to look at ads they see and realize how it makes them feel,"
explains Cst. McCallion, noting the number of alcohol, cigarette, and
even shampoo commercials which use sex to try to sell their products.
"We want them to see the difference between these ads and reality," he
says.

In addition to becoming more savvy consumers, the D.A.R.E program also
teaches students "different ways to say no," Cst. McCallion says. The
group addresses peer pressure and bullying, as well as the effect of
the behaviour of friends, older siblings, and parents has on their
decision making.

The program hammers home the point that, ultimately, everyone is
personally responsible for the choices they make.

In his second year of teaching D.A.R.E, Cst. McCallion loves
interacting with the kids. Having a long list of teachers in the
family and a history of coaching, the instructional aspect of the job
seems to come naturally to him. So far, he says the program has
received "a lot of positive feedback." He says parents have been
really supportive of the endeavour, and a few have even confided that
they feel added pressure to quit their own unhealthy habits.

Each year, the RCMP tries to teach the program in as many schools as
possible.

Cst. McCallion believes through the program he has built "a really
good rapport with students." In fact, the constable says it has been
refreshing forhim to see how much respect the students have for police.

In his line of work, people are often unhappy to interact with him.
But with students, "it is one aspect of this job where people are
smiling and happy to see you," says Cst. McCallion.

It is important, he notes, to facilitate a positive relationship
between young people and police early on. The D.A.R.E program is a way
to encourage trust, and Cst. McCallion is pleased there will be
"funding for school liaisons" next year. Selected officers will give
presentations to students and provide a reassuring presence in
schools. Cst. McCallion sees the new positions as "a positive way to
get kids to talk to us and ask questions."