Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jun 2003
Source: Olds Gazette, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 The Olds Gazette
Contact:  http://oldsgazette.awna.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2372
Author: Liz deGoesbriand

OLDS FIRST D.A.R.E. GRADUATES

Parents, family members and friends beamed with pride on Tuesday, June 3rd 
when 44 students at Deer Meadow School were presented with certificates of 
achievement for mastering the skill of saying 'no'.

Under the direction of Constable Cindy Moore, the students were active 
participants in the Canada wide program 'Drug Abuse Resistance Education' 
(D.A.R.E.).

D.A.R.E.'s mission is; 'To prevent substance abuse among school children." 
For the first time the D.A.R.E. program was taught in Olds.

The 17 week program is taught by a uniformed police officer in the 
classroom. The mandate of the D.A.R.E. program is to teach children how to 
resist drugs and violence and gives them the self esteem they need to succeed.

"The students in this school were very accepting of the ideas and the 
program," said Moore.

In order to pass the D.A.R.E. program students were required to write an 
essay outlining what they had learned, how they would incorporate it in 
their own lives, and an opinion on the value of the program.

"Constable Moore was the best teacher we ever had," said one student. "She 
taught us things we didn't know about drugs. She took an hour out of her 
busy schedule every week to teach us how to control our future."

During a rigorous research study, D.A.R.E. reduced the overall use and 
abuse of drugs and alcohol amongst grade 11 students by an average of 25 
per cent. The D.A.R.E. program boasts a long list of program benefits, some 
of which include; fewer kids on drugs, more kids learning, teachers focused 
on teaching, schools more orderly and behaved, less crime, and more people 
contributing to society.

D.A.R.E.'s program objectives include five objectives:

1. to provide the skills for recognizing and resisting social pressures to 
experiment with tobacco, alcohol and drugs,

2. to help enhance self-esteem,

3. to teach positive alternatives to substance use,

4. to develop skills in risk assessment and decision making,

5. to build interpersonal and communications skills.

"We have completed the first DARE program for the Olds RCMP Detachment. In 
my view this 17 week program has been a major accomplishment for us," said 
Sergeant Bob Phillips, Olds RCMP. "It has helped the children of our 
community to recognize, and resist the pressure that may influence them in 
the experimentation of alcohol, marihuana, inhalants and other drugs, as 
well as to assist them in recognizing how violence hurts everyone."

Two grade six classes at Deer Meadow School participated in the D.A.R.E. 
program that was taught during regular school hours.

"There are so many outside influences that we can't control," express Mrs. 
Lori Clark, teacher Deer Meadow School. "This was an opportunity for the 
students to learn how to make the right choices and how to say no to the 
wrong choices."

Clark believes that some of the outside influences include the media 
avenue. "Examples of bad influences are, tv, magazines, and movies, that 
glorify violence," said Clark.

Clark and the other teachers involved are confident that the D.A.R.E. 
program will return to their school again next year.

"We agreed to do it on a trail basis," explained Clark. "It worked out 
great, I hope we can do it again."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens