MONTANA STUDENTS BECOME DARE-ING

Students at Montana band's Meskanahk Ka
Nipa Wit School are galvanized to steer clear of violence and drugs.

The Grade 5 scholars took part in an international program, joining
more than 70 million other young DARE graduates around the world.

"I will be drug, alcohol and violence free because I'm worrying about
my health and getting in trouble," said Grade 5 student Nikita Rabbit.

"I want to help my grandparents. I don't want to get cancer and I
don't want any kind of disease."

She also thanked her patient and encouraging instructor, RCMP Const.
Richard Huculiak, who has been teaching the DARE program for more than
five years.

Originally introduced by Los Angeles schools and police in 1983, DARE
stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Because the 10-week long
program allowed Huculiak to see kids three times a week rather than
just once a week, "kids got to know me."

"It gives kids basic social skills to be able to understand the
negative effects of drugs, alcohol and violence," he said.

"What we're trying to do is give them some skills to learn what it
does to their body, what it does to their future, and give them that
little edge as they progress through school."

DARE also gives students tools they need to fend off peer
pressure.

"If we can tell them right now that peer pressure is already sitting
there waiting for them, they can remember some of the things they
learned in the DARE program, and be able to say 'No,' take charge of
their own lives and make positive choices," offered Huculiak.

DARE has been around for 20 years, he said, and many adults have
approached him, wishing they had had a program like this when they
were young.

"A lot of people like trying to put it down, but those are only the
drug dealers who don't want to see the program progress. They don't
want the kids to know how they get them addicted and how they get them
to spend their hard-earned money."

The small army of Montana students could scarcely contain their
excitement as they received certificates from teacher Wanda Potts.

"Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for an hour, they got up to write
their essays about what drugs can do to the body. Thanks to the
students for being patient and working hard," she said.