Pubdate: Tue, 21 Feb 2012
Source: Merritt Herald (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Merritt Herald
Contact:  http://www.merrittherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1446
Author: Jade Swartzberg, Merritt Herald

GRADE 5 STUDENTS OFFERED DRUGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY

Merritt mother Kerstin Auer is speaking out about drugs after her
10-year-old son was offered marijuana during his lunch break at
Merritt Central Elementary last Monday.

"You can't sweep something like this under the rug," said Auer.
"Parents have the responsibility to educate their kids and hope they
make the right decision."

Though she was disturbed by the news, in this instance Auer was
relieved that her son did the right thing.

Auer said her son and his friend were approached by an older male with
a backpack who asked them if they wanted some weed. Her 10-year-old
described him as being about 5-foot-7, with brown hair and tanned skin
and said he approached from the direction of Merritt Secondary School
near the parking lot at Central.

Auer said the boys said no and told the first adult they saw, who then
passed the information on to Central principal Trent Dolgopol.

Dolgopol quickly contacted the high school with a description of the
teen, though it didn't seem to fit with any of the MSS students, he
said.

"Central is kind of a walking route, not just for high school students
but the community as a whole," said Dolgopol. "It could have been
someone high school age but no longer in school, or someone a bit older."

Dolgopol said he has not had any other reports of students being
offered drugs on school property, but added that teachers address
safety-related topics in the curriculum.

"If there are strangers on the school property, we encourage our kids
to tell us right away so we can address the problem and contact the
RCMP if necessary," said Dolgopol. "It doesn't have to be comments
about drugs."

In addition, Grade 5 students throughout the community participate in
the D.A.R.E. (drug abuse resistance education) program taught in the
classroom by RCMP officers.

Merritt RCMP Const. Tracy Dunsmore said the program, which has been
taught in Merritt for at least 10 years, is more about decision-making
than just saying no to drugs.

"In Grade 5, students are old enough to know about drugs, but
hopefully they aren't experimenting yet," said Dunsmore. "D.A.R.E.
also gets an RCMP officer in the classroom so the students are
comfortable talking to officers and don't just see the police as
someone who will put them in jail."

Like Dolgopol, Dunsmore was unaware of any other incidents where
elementary students had been offered drugs on school property.

"I hear from kids that [drugs] exist in the middle school and I hear
there is pot and ecstasy in the high school," she said. "Usually if
the school suspects someone of dealing drugs they are right on top of
it."

As a parent, Auer said she was really happy about how the school
handled this incident, but said the main responsibility lies with
parents to prepare children.

"I want my children to grow up being aware of what they put into their
bodies that could be harmful," said Auer. "I would have been just as
upset if my 10-year-old son had been offered alcohol."
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.