DARE MAKES STUDENTS REALIZE DANGERS OF DRUGS

Students Learn Something Every Day.

Their teachers work hard so they can learn the fundamentals of reading,
writing and arithmetic in order to give each student the best possible
chance of pursuing a post-secondary education.

But what about the other aspects of a student's life? There's the growing
pressure of experimenting with drugs, alcohol and tobacco that children in
Gr. 6 have to face every day. As children grow older the pressure mounts,
and mounts, and mounts.

School administration knew this was an issue and, about six years ago,
found an effective way to educate students about the harmful effects of
drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

It's the Drug Awareness, Resistance and Education (DARE) program.DARE is
taught to Edson's Gr. 6 students by two uniformed RCMP officers. This
year's teachers are Const. Jason Young and Const. Attila Tolby.

DARE provides students with one hour a week classes, for 17 weeks, that
focus on pro-active ways students can deal with drugs, alcohol and tobacco,
when faced with the situation in their lives.

"It gives them positive lifestyle choices," Const. Young said.

During the classes, students must complete a workbook and write an essay
about what they learned from the DARE program.

And tomorrow (April 30) this year's classes will officially graduate. And
it's not just a handshake and a certificate - it's an event.

The Edson Legion will host the 125 Gr. 6 students who will graduate from
12:30 to 3 p.m. There will be presentations of certificates of achievement,
refreshments and some other suprises.

Certain students will also be asked to read their essay to the crowd, which
Young hopes is close to 300. It is open to parents and other members of the
public.

It is also a time for thanking the sponsors of the DARE program. Young said
the RCMP has no money invested in DARE and it is a not-for-profit organization.

"The RCMP doesn't pay for the program, it just provides the man power to
teach it.

"This program is driven by sponsors and we're very fortunate to have that.
My hat goes off to the business community."

Pine Grove School Principal Cory Gray said there are thousands of reasons
the DARE program is important to the school and the students. But the main
reason is that students get to hear from somebody who is intimately
involved in trying to deal with drug-related problems.

"It has more impact coming from an officer," Gray said.

"They've heard it from teachers and their parents, but when they hear it
from an officer, it's like they say 'Maybe there's something to this.'"