BROCKET KIDS DARE TO SAY 'NO'

An almost two-decade-old drug-education program has made its debut in
Brocket. The "DARE" program was introduced to the Grade 6 class at Napi's
Playground Elementary School for the first time Jan. 8.

"I have to give the credit to Const. Christine Doiron," said Jo-Anne Smith,
the school's principal. "This is all her initiative, and she's the first
RCMP officer to approach us with this program."

The program was developed in California in 1986 and designed to be a
partnership between police and schools. Since then, it has expanded across
the United States and Canada. "There are no teachers who teach DARE, only
police," Const. Doiron told the eager Grade 6 class. Doiron was required to
take a DARE training program before presenting it to the students.

"Grade 6 is the perfect age to introduce this program to the kids," said
Doiron. "They're getting ready to go into junior high, where they will be
facing more peer pressure to smoke and take drugs."

In fact, students demonstrated an early sophistication about the drug
culture, when Doiron presented them with the question, "What is a drug?"

"Marijuana, that acid stuff you put on your tongue, mushrooms, Cocaine,
beer," were just some of the responses the students came up with.

"What about Tylenol, or Buckley's Cough Syrup?" Doiron posed to the kids,
who quickly acknowledged that these, too, fit the category of 'drug'.

"What do you think abuse means?" Doiron asked next, moving to the second
letter in the "DARE" acronym.

"When people take drugs to make them feel better," offered Sage Provost. "It
can also mean you're over-doing it," observed Myron Sharp Adze.

Doiron let the students know they were on the right track, when she pointed
out that some drugs, designed to make you feel better are actually good,
like taking Tylenol to relieve a headache. Students learned the DARE program
is not just about the dangers of drugs or alcohol, but about promoting
positive behaviours and boosting self-esteem, as emphasized by the third and
fourth headings in the DARE acronym: 'Resistance' and ''Education'.

Doiron encouraged the kids to ask questions about anything they wanted to
know. That prompted the inevitable from Kevin Crow Shoe: "Did you ever try
drugs?"

"No," was Doiron's response. "I have tried alcohol, because I'm an adult,
and can make that choice," she went on to explain. "And I tried to smoke a
cigarette when I was in Grade 9. But I coughed so bad that I never tried it
again. It was horrible!"

Doiron reminded the students that she had a goal to become a police officer
from an early age - Grade 4 or 5 - and knew that taking drugs would
interfere with that goal, so she had strong motivation to stay away from
drugs. The students were satisfied with the explanation. "Kids appreciate
honesty," Doiron commented after the session. "There's no use lying to them,
because they see right through it, and you won't have their respect."

Students were given personal workbooks to use throughout the 17-week course.
"My hope is that the students learn drug and alcohol awareness and learn to
say "No". Our problem on the reserve is very expensive," Smith said.

"I hope they learn values with respect to abstaining, but also general
values that kids don't seem to be getting in the world today," Smith pointed
out, adding, "There seems to be a decreased emphasis on positive values in
society in general. Our young are not getting the same teachings we did from
our parents," observed Smith.

At the end of the 17 weeks, a graduation ceremony will be held Smith
emphasized the values taught in the course will be implemented throughout
the school year.