DARE INSTRUCTOR ENJOYS WORKING WITH KIDS

Three Consecutive Days In His Red Serge.

But Const. Richard Huculiak won't mind dusting off his ceremonial RCMP
attire for visits to Falun, Lakedell and Pipestone schools as part of his
duties as a DARE instructor.

Falun is first on the agenda, with Huculiak helping teacher Monica Robins
and her 16 students graduate, April 11, starting at 1 p.m. DARE stands for
Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

Huculiak and other instructors usually spend a few hours each week in the
classroom going over a set program initially introduced to students in Los
Angles in 1983.

DARE instructors like Huculiak and Const. Becky Wylie Jardine arm kids shy
of entering junior high with weapons of knowledge and confidence to "just
say no."

Doing the DARE program is also a break for the students from their teacher,
but they are still learning, according to Huculiak.

"The program is all new to them. It's a good opportunity to go back to basics."

Huculiak believes in a hands-on approach in the classroom.

"There's role playing. You can only preach to them so much from a book. You
want to keep their attention."

With only 16 students in Falun to instruct, Huculiak liked the
teacher-student ratio.

"You get to know them. You can see it in their eyes the students enjoy the
instruction."

DARE grads at Falun include Erin Cummings, Sharene de Vries, Isabelle
Ehret, Travis Feldberg, Angelina Gillespie, Austyn Harris, Taylor Keats,
Skylar Kemp, Kale Manion, Taylor Melnikel, Cody Ruskowsky, Miranda Simon,
Tonya Simpson, Matthew York and Adam Zimmerman.

Huculiak believes in the DARE program and what the students obtain from
taking part.

While dealing with peer pressure, alcohol and drug use are part of the
lesson plan, Huculiak also stresses respect in and out of the classroom.

He is hopeful all his DARE grads learned they can make positive choices in
life, and not be pressured into doing something they don't want to do.

The veteran Mountie is direct in his approach to teaching -- he relates to
them, not shying away from the tough questions. The biggest question from
students often concerns alcohol.

"Believe it or not," he said, "they are concerned about their health and
what it can do to them. Everyone is a unique individual and have the power
to make their own choices."

Part of the program entails having the students write an essay about their
DARE knowledge. Students volunteered to read them in front of their peers
and parents prior to Huculiak handing out graduation certificates and DARE
t-shirts.

"(The essay) gets the kids thinking how they can improve themselves," said
Huculiak.

"The focus on the program (when it comes to drugs or alcohol) is not on
scare tactics."

DARE is about giving kids the skills and information they need to make good
life choices, something Huculiak focused on during his time in the
classroom at both Lakedell and Pipestone.

The latter elementary school enjoyed its inaugural DARE instruction and
graduation, April 13.

DARE grads from teacher Linda Erhardt's classroom include Amanda Balding,
Abel Burroughts, Ashley Dyck, Braden Froning, Nicole Guss, Glenn Gutenberg,
Colten Knull, Annalise Larsen, Joshua Marks, Joyce Peters, Scott Pfeifle,
Marta Ree, Bordy Riviere, Erin Specht and Austin Shahl.

The April 12 DARE grad in Lakedell teacher Karen Cline's class include
Jilayne Baptiste, Larry Bull, Linden Dahler, Chelan Johnson, Chantry
Lindsey, Cairo Potts, Sherralynn Roan, Chance Roasting, Sydney Roasting and
Dylan Rowan.