Pubdate: Thu, 31 May 2001
Source: The Elk Valley Miner (CN BC)
Section: Pg 4
Copyright: 2001 The Elk Valley Miner
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/1237
Author: Nathan Fox

DARING TO QUESTION DARE

To the Editor:

As we once again stumble upon another completion of a school year, we 
wonder if today's students (future voters,) are being properly educated. 
But I'm not talking reading, writing, and P.E.

I truly question the DARE program altogether, I am however one of their 
first graduated students.  The entire structure around the program itself 
is attributed from its heritage, That's right, the good ol' USA.

Here's an Idea, let's send a public service man (RCMP person) into a 
classroom to teach kids about the substances which are used, misused and 
abused in our society.

First off, sending a person of authority into a school to be an educator 
isn't going to work on more than four or five out of every hundred.  Why?, 
you ask.  Simply because children perceive people of authority as such a 
chance for rebellion.

Hell it's bad enough trying to teach them the helmets and seatbelts routine.

For some strange reason Kids are using more and more rebellious behaviour. 
I won't even touch the guns and knives issue, Thanks Prez.

Why could they not have set up more programs so that these students can 
partake in lectures from The D&AA professional counsellors, theatrical 
performance groups, and recovered speakers with a history and story to 
tell?  Why take a break from school days to educate our youth on the street 
drugs available and their effects anyway? Do these children not have a 
parent to talk to?  Are these children being told about the long term 
effects and consequences of substances such as sugar, yeast, salt, silk or 
smoke of any kind, or the preservatives of the sorts in their day to day 
diets.  No!

Give the youth some freedom and hold them accountable for their own 
mistakes.  Don't bring an authority figure into a school to showcase a 
variety of commonly available street drugs, and is the stuff they've got 
any good?

We are creating nothing more than a larger drug war, a more rebellious 
generation of young adults and above all, a society that hopes that their 
children will succeed beyond their own expectations.

Nathan Fox,
Fernie BC
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MAP posted-by: Beth