A DARE OF A DIFFERENT KIND AT AIRPORT ELEMENTARY

In the good old days, the worst a school-yard dare would get you, even
a double-dog dare, might be a tongue frozen to a metal post.

But these days, the dares children entertain can be much more serious
- - especially when they involve drugs. With some estimates suggesting
up to 14 per cent of children in middle school have been approached to
try drugs, a dare of a different kind is called for.

Enter Cpl. Daniel Martineau, a 19 Wing Military Policeman and the
force behind Airport Elementary's Drug Abuse and Alcohol Resistance
Program. Teaming up Friday with principal Bill Green and teachers
Sherry Watson and Bob Fleischer, Martineau watch-ed as Airport's Grade
6 DARE class performed skits, read essays and then 'graduated',
preparing students to make good friends and good decisions.

"Without this training, they wouldn't know how to say no," Martineau
said. "They wouldn't know how to react if someone were to offer them
drugs."

First run by the Los Angeles Police Department in 1983, the DARE
program is now taught in 47 countries. The 17-hour program provides
students a chance to interact with uniformed police officers in a
non-threatening environment. Students learn about the harmful effects
of drugs, and role-play ways of saying no if they encounter a dealer.

"Kids at this age can often have low self-esteem, and we know people
with low self-esteem are vulnerable to drugs," said Martineau. "Our
aim is to build up their immunity, build up their self-esteem so they
can resist and make the right choices both now and later in life."

Judging by the performances and wild support for one another,
self-esteem among Airport's Grade 6 class is not in short supply.
After a series of skits showing how to react to a drug dealer, several
students read essays demonstrating their grasp of the importance of
drug education, including the effect media and advertising have upon
their lifestyle choices.

The program captured the interest of the students. "It wasn't just
boring," said Danielle, one of six to read her essay before her
classmates. "You never just sat down and listened. If I didn't have
this program, I'd probably still say no to drugs, but I might have a
better chance to say yes."

Part of the program's appeal may be its relevance. Walking with a
friend one day, 11-year-old Amanda recalls a 14-year-old asking her to
try some marijuana. "My friend had had the DARE program," she said.
"My friend said no, let's just go now."