D.A.R.E. PROGRAM DARES TO TEACH

Learning how to say 'no' is a very important skill that every kid has to
learn, at some time or another.

That's why the D.A.R.E. program is such an important tool. The program is
invaluable as it educates the youngsters about the pressures and
temptations of drugs and alcohol, which they'll learn about sooner or
later. Preferably sooner.

The Deer Meadow Middle School here in Olds, puts their grade six students
through a mandatory nine week program, where the kids learn all about the
disturbing world of drugs and alcohol. Educating these kids about these
issues is the only way that they'll be able to make an informed decision.

"This is just another avenue of informing the kids about the different
choices that they have out there so that they can make a better decision,"
said Constable Cindee Moore. "The program covers a lot of different things.

It was very eye opening for the kids, and they had lots of good questions.
We just want to help them dispell some myths that are out there."

You may think that the D.A.R.E. program simply consists of telling these
kids how to say no, but it's certainly not that elementary. These kids
wrote essays, role played, and discussed their way to an educated opinion.

"This gives them more skills than just talking about drug awareness,"
continued Moore. "It also tells them how to respond to people, and the
different ways of saying no. It's more than just drugs. It's something that
is more long-term. It's something that they might not need today, but they
can use it later on in their lives. It's an excellent social skill to learn."

The kids taking the program were obviously a little hesitant about speaking
with a RCMP officer everyday, but Moore insists that was just in the beginning.

"As a police officer going in there, they were shy at first," said Moore.
"But as they got to know me as a person, they opened up and got much more
involved. They were just great kids, and I couldn't have asked for anything
more from them."

Having a D.A.R.E. program in Olds is most certainly a benefit to the
community. It looks as though this program will become a mainstay at the
Deer Meadow school.

"This is my second year with the DARE program, and this is the second year
the program has been in Olds," added Moore. "There are roughly 60
graduates. Two classes of about 28 kids in a class, and all four classes in
this school are going to get the program."

Constable Moore insists that this program is an extremely valuable tool to
educate these youngsters.

"Education is a key," said Moore. "Without education, there's myths out
there that they can't dispell. It's really just a great program that
teaches them a lot of different things. Maybe they won't need to use them
today, but later on in life, they might cross those kinds of problems."