Lessons In Messin'

Just what does your average Grade 5 Surrey student know about drugs? A
class at Grandview Heights Elementary confessed that, just a few short
weeks ago, their knowledge was sorely limited.

Tessa: "I didn't know the difference between London Drugs and the drugs
people sell on the street."

Matthew: "What did I know about drugs? Kind of blank."

Joe: "Always sounded like some kind of poison."

Travis: "Well, I thought I knew everything."

The South Surrey group is part of a pilot project where a trained RCMP
officer teaches students what drugs are, what happens to people who use
them, and how to say "No."

It's called Drug Abuse Resistance Education and, while it's been taught in
the U.S. and other B.C. schools for years, these students are the first in
Surrey to take the course.

In 17 modules, DARE aims to teach pre-teens skills to resist social
pressures to experiment with cigarettes, alcohol and drugs.

The effects of drugs on the body, social consequences, the reasons people
turn to drugs, alternative and positive ways to spend time, building
self-esteem and assertiveness, as well as how to go about saying "No," are
all covered during one-hour classroom sessions with Surrey RCMP Constable
Mike Elston.

"It's really about teaching them they have choices to make. And those
choices will play a role in how their future turns out," Elston said,
noting in-class interaction helps youngsters see police as approachable and
friendly.

"We talk about gangs, family pressures, violence, just about anything
that's of concern to young people."

There's also a DARE box for questions, allowing students to ask anonymously
for information or help.

Grandview Heights principal Della Meyers said it's helped open doors for
conversation between students and their parents.

"I'm hearing about it from moms and dads. The students go home with even
more questions, and then I hear from the parents," Meyers said.

Elston said the program costs RCMP about $11 per student-covering a
workbook, pencils, a DARE t-shirt, and the officer's time (although Elston
volunteers to teach off-duty as well).

The students' final class is June 4, when they'll invite parents to attend
a graduation ceremony featuring skits displaying what they've learned.

And even students like Travis, who thought they knew everything, will have
something new to share.

"I've learned some very interesting things," Travis said.