KELOWNA NEEDS TO KEEP DARE

Re: Cancellation of DARE program in Kelowna.

As a mother of three school-aged kids, 16,12, and 11 years of age, who
have all been involved with the DARE program, I would love to see it
continue.

I am sure there are a lot of other parents who would surely
agree.

Our 12-year-old son, at Rutland Middle School, wrote an essay on why
he wants to see this continue, and then, on the other side, write why
he is upset about this program being discontinued.

On the front page of the Nov. 25 Daily Courier, it states that kids
locally are not being fed.

Well, let's see, education, food, health, what next? Oh yeah, the DARE
program.

To me, it seems, by cancelling the DARE program, the government is
encouraging our children to go ahead and use drugs, starve, steal as
if it is not already a big issue with kids these days.

Would it be hard to have help from parents who can and are willing to
take the time to present this program at their children's schools or
in the community. To teach this program, perhaps free of charge, with
a constable present?

I don't think there would be an issue if parents were involved with
their children's programs at the schools and were able to educate them
on these issues (almost like home schooling).

With the provincial government making all these cutbacks, it seems we
will one day be teaching our children all these things: education,
DARE, sex ed and driver's training, if not more. Parents need to stay
at home more to teach our children where the government has failed to
do so.

Just because the government cannot control its spending and spends our
money on its own luxuries, we parents, let alone the children, should
not have to suffer because of their errors.

The DARE program is a must and should always be taught to our
children.

Tina Stussi,

Kelowna