SHERMAN STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG USE

Wakefield Elementary fourth graders watched in awe Tuesday as Sherman
Police Lt. Steve Ayers and Officer Mark Wood snapped handcuffs on
Dillingham Intermediate students and walked them out of the cafeteria.

The Choices presentation, presented by Dillingham teacher Mary Newman's
theater arts class, offered the students a poignant message about the
choices they make -- as part of nationwide Red Ribbon Drug Prevention Week.

The cast of 20 Dillingham students acted out scenarios where children
succumbed to peer pressure, stealing, shoplifting and drinking alcohol at a
party at elementary campuses throughout the district.

"Joseph has such a big mouth, I know he's going to tell someone I stole the
phone," Sarah Shelton said. She had pocketed her teacher's cell phone
earlier in the play, after the character played by Kaylea Daubenspeck left
the room.

As Sarah dialed a number on the cell, Officer Wood walked up behind her.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked her.

After Sarah admitted to stealing the phone, Wood pulled out a card and
began reading the pre-teen her Miranda Rights.

Robert Fugett, founder of 2nd Chance Ministry, showed students a poster
containing a current photo and a photo of himself during his prison
book-in. The poster read, "The Difference: Death. Life."

"I started making bad choices when I was your age," Fugett told the group.
"I thought I knew everything, and I didn't listen to my parents or my
teachers."

Fugett went on to tell students that he hung around friends who did drugs
and committed crimes, and his lifestyle eventually caught up to him.

"People who do these kinds of things just want someone to be miserable with
them, to get in trouble with them."

Ron Brown, chief deputy of the Grayson County Jail, told students the black
and white stripes worn by the "arrested" Dillingham students might look
like Halloween costumes, but 17-year-olds who make poor choices will end up
wearing them.

"Once that happens, we make the choices for you," he said. "We get to
decide if you get to see TV and what you're going to watch. We decide what
you get to eat and when you eat. Make sure you never wear this suit."

The Choices program began at Jefferson Elementary last year, with teachers
playing the part of the students. The Dillingham students will perform the
program district-wide throughout Red Ribbon Week.