Pubdate: Wed, 22 Jan 2014
Source: Independent & Free Press, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact:  http://www.independentfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3144
Author: Tim Whitnell

POLICE, BOARDS 'DARED' TO MAKE 'BRAVE' CHANGE

Police and educators in Halton have 'dared' to make a 'brave' change.
The region's public and Catholic school boards, in partnership with
police, have instituted a new, more encompassing program that replaces
the longtime, in-class anti-drug lessons.

Gone after more than 20 years is the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(D.A.R.E.) program delivered by Halton Regional Police. In its place
is Building Respect, Attitudes and Values with Others
(B.R.A.V.O.).

B.R.A.V.O. is an eight-lesson program for all Grade 6 students
delivered by seven Halton police Elementary School Liaison Officers
(ESLO).

B.R.A.V.O. started as a pilot project in Halton in January 2013, which
ended last June. It began as a regular feature within the curriculum
at local school boards in September.

To date, about half of the 6,000 Grade 6 students at the Halton public
and Catholic boards have received the instruction.

Speaking at a Halton Catholic school board meeting in late November
2013, Halton police Insp. Jeff Corey said police and educators here
needed more flexibility in writing the program for Canadian students.

"No knock against D.A.R.E., and it is used across the U.S. and Canada,
but the curriculum is written in the U.S.," from an American crime and
societal perspective, said Corey.

B.R.A.V.O. is intended to focus on a number of areas for pre-teen and
adolescent students like decision-making skills, peer relationships,
conflict resolution and social responsibility.

There will still be talks on issues that D.A.R.E. consistently covered
such as substance use and abuse of items like tobacco, alcohol,
marijuana, other illegal drugs and prescription drugs.

Bullying prevention is in the mix with discussion about types of
bullying, prevention, intervention/response, supports, cyber bullying,
Internet safety and social media.

Youth actions, consequences and the law are also examined.

The response from teachers, students and parents has been positive,
says the program's co-ordinator.

"The feedback we have been getting has exceeded our expectations,"
said Sgt. Kim Hill of Halton police's Education Services Division.

"Because it is a made-for-Halton model, we wanted to incorporate some
things that haven't been taught in a classroom before, on technology
and use of devices. The (students) users are more mature than when we
began teaching in the schools 20 years ago," he noted.

Grade 6 students receive eight 40-minute in-class lessons, which
includes culminating activities and the B.R.A.V.O.
Celebration.

The B.R.A.V.O. Encore program consists of two 40-minute lessons for
Grade 7 students and two 40-minute sessions for Grade 8s, which
includes a presentation on the role of the High School Liaison
Officer. The Grade 7 and 8 components will be fully implemented next
year.

"There is a great deal of flexibility in altering the delivery of each
lesson in consultation with the teacher," stated a Halton Catholic
board report about B.R.A.V.O.

"The interesting thing for us, there are seven main lessons. Through
research we know those are the most important topics in that age
group," said Hill.

"There's a lot more room for discussion of the Internet, social media,
bullying and cyber-bullying. The parents are thrilled that we are
initiating that conversation and it is coming from police," he added.

"We are already in the process of making revisions to the program for
next year. B.R.A.V.O. could change significantly in the next 3-5 years."

Student lessons from a B.R.A.V.O. notebook are worked on in-class to
be completed either individually or as a small group.

Each activity is designed to be flexible to accommodate individual
student learning needs.

There also will be an opportunity for students to write what they have
learned about after each lesson.

A unique feature of the B.R.A.V.O. program is the parental connection
as lessons can be taken home for discussion with parents.

"So they can initiate the conversation at home. The lesson (list) is
sent home at the start of the school year so parents know what's
coming up," said Hill.

He acknowledged some parents won't want to participate while others
are very engaged.

"Teachers will pick up on that and encourage (dialogue) where
appropriate," he said.

School boards supplement the cost of printing program materials;
Halton police pays the salaries of the officers delivering the
B.R.A.V.O. program, which is just one component of the liaison
officer's duties, said Hill.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D