EDUCATION: LION-QUEST USED IN SD 23 SINCE 1990

To the editor:

In a recent article about illegal school drug use, a trustee wished to know
about the drug prevention programs in the Central Okanagan School District
23 (Illegal School Drug Use Issue for Trustee, Dec. 10 Capital News).

The trustee mentions that Kamloops has a program called Lions-Quest.

I would like to point out that the Lions-Quest life skills/drug awareness
programs, sponsored by the Lions and Lioness clubs, have been used in School
District 23 since 1990. As a matter of fact, School District 23 has been a
B.C. leader in using these programs. Since 1990 over 900 teachers,
principals and aides have taken the Lions-Quest workshops.

The Lions-Quest programs are being used in the elementary and middle
schools. These life skills programs work to instill in the students a
feeling of self-worth and belonging and emphasize cooperation and teamwork.
The programs have a strong anti-drug use (including tobacco and alcohol use
by young people) component.

There is also a supplemental anti-bullying unit.

To use the programs teachers have to take a training workshop. They are then
supplied with comprehensive manuals. Supplementary materials are also
available.

School District 23 was the first school district in B.C. to have local
principals trained as workshop leaders. It now has four dedicated principals
trained.

The seven Lions clubs and two Lioness clubs in the Central Okanagan are
active partners in the Lions-Quest programs. They have donated more than
$145,000 to sponsor workshops and to subsidize the purchase of classroom
materials.

As well as supporting the programs in School District 23, The Lions and
Lioness have also sponsored workshops for student teachers at the Okanagan
University College. This was a first in Canada.

To summarize, the Lions, the Lioness and the Central Okanagan School
District have been leaders in B.C. in implementing the Lions-Quest programs.
Something we can be justly proud of.

Thomas F. Sawtell, Lion workshop coordinator, Central Okanagan Life Skills
Educational Society, Kelowna