Pubdate: Mon, 01 Nov 2004 Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO) Copyright: 2004 The Springfield News-Leader Contact: http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129 Author: Cory de Vera Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Red+Ribbon (Red Ribbon Week) MAKING POSITIVE CHOICES Area Schools Use Red Ribbon Week As A Way To Focus On Preventing Drug, Alcohol Use Whether they were using red balloons or fake blood, last week many schools asked students to focus on the consequences of drinking and using drugs. At Willard South Elementary, the whole school gathered on the playground to declare, "This is me, drug-free!" and released about 400 red balloons. First-grader Michaela Gugel was giddy with excitement as she watched the balloons soar into the sky. "Drugs are dangerous for little kids," she said. "If we take them, it will make us really, really, really sick." Red Ribbon Week, is a tradition that started in 1985 at Calexico High School in California. In was originally meant to honor Kiki Camarena, a graduate of the school who was murdered by a drug gang while working as an undercover agent for the Drug Enforcement Agency. Willard students don't learn about Camarena, said counselor David Suits. The focus is on age-appropriate lessons that help students think through consequences of choices they make. At Willard, activities included skits about making healthy choices and a day to wear sports outfits to "team up against drugs." "At this age they know teenagers who smoke, or they may have seen their parents drunk," said school counselor David Suits. "We talk about if your parents smoke and drink, that may be OK for them, but it's not for you, a child. We show them what happens to lungs when they fill up with smoke." Michaela said she'd remember what she'd learned that week "for the whole rest of my life." But if she happens to forget, she's likely to hear the message every year until she graduates. Anti-drug education in all public schools is federally financed with Title IV funds. In the mid-1990s, the law was amended to forbid funds from being used for promotional giveaway items, so events like Willard South's still rely on parent-teacher organizations to provide items such as balloons to make events memorable. Funds often provide general support for school counseling programs. At Reed Middle School, students marked the week with an event called "Wake up and smell the coffee," a breakfast that brought in about 130 students and parents. "We have a handout that we give them, and it tells them our theme: 'Now that you know, what will you do?'" explained coordinator Harold Isaak. The handout included facts about teen drinking, smoking and marijuana. Many times, parents of middle school children aren't sure how to approach their kids as their kids seek more and more independence. Isaak hopes the event opens dialogue so students are able to talk when faced with choices. Glendale High School organizers sent an anti-drinking message in a more somber way. They called in the Grim Reaper. On Thursday morning, he stood by silently on the lawn outside of the school with the sophomore class as they watched what happened at a mock car accident involving five teenagers. They saw real emergency medical workers arrange a drape over the "bloody body" of Caitlin Brice, who "died" from being thrown through the windshield of the car. If they were close enough, students could smell alcohol, see fake blood, and hear the moaning of student actors. They watched an officer handcuff and arrest driver Jule Clinkenbeard. Sixteen-year-old sophomore Ashley Gillenwaters said she had never seen a crash site up close, and she thought the drama would make students think. "We care about a lot of the people here," she said. "If some of us died it would be a lot different." But some students laughed, or taunted the actors, saying, "I can still see you breathing!" Lori Minor, a nurse from St. John's who coordinates the crash dramas at area schools, said it isn't unusual for high school students to laugh. "They don't know how to grieve. That's their reaction to death and dying at this point. And they know this isn't real." Throughout the day, the Grim Reaper continued coming to class, selecting students who would then have their obituaries read to them. Some students went to the hospital to observe trauma rooms. Would it make a difference? "It's worth it if it stops just one," said Glendale counselor Coyeatta Ewing. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek