RCMP COMMENT WAS OUTRAGEOUS

Dear Sir:

After attending the Coast Mountains School Board meeting June 4 I came home
absolutely appalled.

During the discussion on Project DARE, anti-drug program proposed for the
school district, the RCMP Corporal who trains all of the RCMP officers who
deliver the program was asked why some students opt out of the classes.

The only reason she could offer was that it was likely due to the fact that
their parents are drug users themselves.

I believe there could be a number of other reasons that parents or students
would choose to opt out of this program.

How about the parents who want to do their own moral and ethical teaching
from home? How about the parents who don't want their children introduced
to drugs? How about the parents who want more of their child's school time
spent on learning to read and write? How about the students who feel they
would be uncomfortable in such a class? The list goes on and on.

Some years ago my own daughter opted out of a Grade Ten sex education
class. Her reason? She felt she would rather use the time to get her
homework for that day done. My reason? I felt that the issue was being
dealt with at home and that it was important that it be discussed in a
particular manner.

If I insert the thinking of the R.C.M.P. Corporal at the June 4 meeting
into my personal situation would she have thought I was a sexual abuser?

I often hear comments about how parents have to take more responsibility
for their children's upbringing and I wonder how many parents will feel
comfortable having their children opt out of DARE or other similar programs
when they know there will be a cloud of suspicion hanging over them.

One of the aims of DARE is to enhance the image of the RCMP. Perhaps they
could assist that enhancement by not making such outrageous statements.

Gail Murray

Terrace B.C.