DARE to be different and strong

Page 11

Students at St. Mary's middle and high schools are being taught to say "no" to drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

And helping them gain the strength to make that decision is Const. Betty Spear Chief, of the Blood Tribe Police.

Spear Chief is the main resource teacher for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program or DARE, which is a joint effort of the school board and the tribal police.

Since September, Spear Chief has been in the schools, teaching a 17-week program to grades 5 and 6, and a 10-week program to Grade 9.

DARE has been taught at the grades 5 and 6 levels for two years at St. Mary's, while it's the first time it's been incorporated into the health curriculum for Grade 9.

"The program is unique because there's a police officer who goes into the school to teach against drugs and alcohol," explained Spear Chief. "With a police officer going into the classroom it gives teaching more credibility and shows the police officer as a role model."

The program is aimed at giving students the tools to resist social pressure and say no to smoking, drinking and doing drugs.

DARE started in 1983 in Los Angeles and soon spread north of the border. The Blood Tribe Police sent a member (not Spear Chief) for training a few years ago.

Before Spear Chief started teaching DARE, she took a two-week training program at the RCMP's K Division in Edmonton.

Students look at the effects of mind altering drugs and the consequences; they are taught eight different ways of saying "no," from simply walking away to vocalizing; they learn to build self-esteem and be assertive; they learn how to manage stress, how to reduce gang violence, and they learn how to fend off seductive advertising and how to make the right decisions. The elementary grades are introduced to high school role models who are popular and who have also said no to drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

To graduate from the course, students must write an essay entitled "Taking a Stand." And most importantly, they must be leading a drug, alcohol and tobacco-free lifestyle.

Reading those essays has made Spear Chief realize the program is making a difference.

"The essays show they're listening," she said. "They talk about things I didn't think they heard."

And Spear Chief also sees the program helping to promote her as a friend and not an adversary.

"A lot of students will catch me alone in the hall and discuss drinking issues with me. Or they'll tell me they said "no" and they're proud.

"I've seen a lot of sad things," said Spear Chief. "I'm hopeful this will change things."

A nine-year veteran of the Blood Tribe Police, Spear Chief would like to return to St. Mary's next year to teach DARE. Although it will be offered again, it's unclear as to whether the Blood Tribe Police will be doing the program.