STUDENTS FIGHT DRUGS WITH WORDS

TUSCALOOSA -- Alberta Elementary's Drug-Free Puppeteers have found a new
medium to preach the dangers of drugs - writing.

The puppeteer team, known for presenting shows for other children around
the area, has written "Behind the Curtain," a part fiction, part nonfiction
story about a puppet team and a student who begins using drugs. It's
written from the perspective of a 4-year-old.

Suzanne Gary, who drew illustrations for the book, was impressed with the
students' efforts.

"It's a really mature ending for fifth graders," she said. "It's not your
ride-off-into-the-sunset ending. It's a thoughtful ending."

School counselor Shannon Beard, who founded the drug-free puppeteers, said
she encouraged the students to write the book after seeing their interest
in a writing workshop in the fall with a visiting author.

"I saw their faces and saw they were getting turned on to writing," she said.

Beard said students spent time they would normally practice for the puppet
team writing the book. The dozen members of the squad were divided into
groups to write each of the book's eight chapters.

"Not one of them said they couldn't do it," Beard said.

The students spent three months writing the story and then took a field
trip to the University of Alabama to see their book printed.

"Now I have a different perspective about writing," said team member
Lincoln Eason. "Now I know what the process is you go through. I see how
much work it is."

The students will get the celebrity treatment Saturday when they sign
copies of the book at Books-a-Million from 1 to 3 p.m. "Behind the Curtain"
costs $10, with profits to fund the team.

"It is unbelievable," team member Paul Dykes said. "You would never think
that we did it."