PROGRAM TEACHES STUDENTS TO AVOID NEGATIVE CHOICES

LAWRENCEVILLE

In all 11 years of her life, Mercedes Robinson has learned a thing or two
about gangs, drugs and violence.

She could tell you what a gang member's clothing looks like, and what
effect drugs have on someone who abuses them.

"They have a banner on their head and one of their pants legs is up and one
is down," Robinson said knowledgeably. As for drug users, "they look
confused," she explained.

But the 11-year-old's education didn't come from the street. She is one of
thousands of fifth-graders in Gwinnett public schools who were taught to
avoid drugs, alcohol, smoking, gangs and violence in a program called
ADVANCE sponsored by the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department.

In 1997, the department took over the old DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance
Education) program which was taught in some local schools, revamped it and
expanded it. Now ADVANCE, which stands for Avoiding Drugs, Violence and
Negative Choices Early, is taught to fifth-graders in every public
elementary school in Gwinnett.

In an environment where many children are yearning for approval, deputies
are teaching young students to take pride in their own uniqueness.

Acknowledging that it's OK, even good, to be different is just one step to
avoiding the crush of peer pressure which often leads children to join
gangs, experiment with drugs and alcohol or act out with violence.

The program does make a difference in the lives of some children, say the
seven deputies who are in schools full-time teaching ADVANCE to as many as
10,000 students.

Cpl. John Irvine, who has been teaching the curriculum for the past 10
years, said reaching out to troubled students in the Meadowcreek cluster is
more of a calling than a job.

"A lot of kids I see in that cluster tell me several years later they
stayed out of gangs and avoided violence because of something they saw in
the lessons," Irvine said.

There are eight lessons to ADVANCE, which are taught once a week during the
time allotted for health class. Deputies try to get kids to interact by
role playing, planning games and encouraging discussions, according to Irvine.

The topics include the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, and how to
avoid gangs and violence. Students are tested and given a final grade for
the course. They also participate in a poster and an essay contest, the
awards for which are given at a graduation. Parents are invited to attend
the graduation ceremony, where a guest speaker from law enforcement will
give a brief speech.

At a recent Benefield Elementary School graduation in Lawrenceville,
students were enthusiastic as essay contest winners read their entries aloud.

One parent, 36-year-old Rufus Wimberley, said he was thankful that programs
about avoiding negative choices were being done early at the schools.

"It's very important the faster they comprehend that," said Wimberley.

"They get pressure at a very early age. (My son) has a tendency of wanting
attention, and it is easy for a kid to have an identity problem. It's easy
to become gang-oriented."

Many kids treated guest speakers Deputy Christy Parker and FBI Agent Joe
Fonseca as if they were celebrities, rushing forward after the assembly was
finished to get their autographs.

Eleven-year-old Ahyan Niazi said he thought ADVANCE was "excellent,"
especially the part about street gangs.

"I thought it was pretty fun because they taught us the difference between
gangs and street gangs," Niazi said.

"Deputy Parker," as students call the ADVANCE program instructor for
Benefield, said that teaching children to be comfortable with the presence
of law enforcement and supporting troubled students is just as important as
the curriculum.

"Honestly, it is the most rewarding job in law enforcement," Parker said.