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DARE reinforces saying no to drugs _ By KATHY YANCHUS Oakville Beaver Staff When warning kids about the dangers of drugs, it‘s not as simple as telline them to say no. It‘s a matter of building a strong, independent little person, ong who has the courage to say no; it‘s a matter of teaching lifeskills. With some children, this means reinforcâ€" the confidence they have In 6 months, your chi earn computers! Our handsâ€"on teaching techniques help kids from 5 to 13 years master computers At Futurekids, learning computers is an adventure in fun that will benefit your chilâ€" dren for the rest of their lives . and learn to love learning. in Oakville call us at 847â€"5437 W)EW ‘:-Q@ \V- Bc L Commercial Point 481 North Service Rd. Unit A10 847â€"5437 Whatever the personalities before him, Constable Stewart Flameling, of the Halton Regional Police DARE program, has a tremendous responsibility every time he steps in front of a Grade 6 class. accrued at home; in others it‘s a much more difficult job because a secure home life is lacking. Flamelmc is very aware of this fact, but he is a firm believer in the FREE INTRODUCTORY LESSON! For a limited time only, get your first class free with this ad. Classes Forming Now! Sunday Brunch in Our Squire‘s Room $12.95 Children ‘6.95 Priut Pic N. ul program â€" which reaches approxiâ€" mately 3,000 Halton students every year â€" and its ;esults. This molding of the young mind as opposed to only filling it with the dangers of drugs, is evident in the fact that the bulk of the focus is on resistarice skills while one session deals with the various drugs. "We cover personal safety, drug use and misuse, risk and conseâ€" quences, resisting peer pressure . . . building selfâ€"esteem and assertiveâ€" ness as opposed to aggressiveness, how to manage stress without the use of drugs, media influences . . ." explains Flameling. _ , 7 Flameling, who has been one of Halton‘s three DARE officers for four years, says the feedback is posâ€" itive, and those favorable comments are commo not only from students but teachers and parents all of whom Flameling draws into his 16â€" week program. "I ask them to discuss the things we‘ve talked about, at the supper table," says Flameling. He has been approached by parents who say their child is much more verbal with | arcade sound systems _ PRIME RIB O« > EEKEND SPECIALS FAMILY RESTAI! URANT Saturday Sunday 8â€"11 a.m. Breakfast Buffet Includes Coffee Friday, Saturday Sunday Dinner Buffet 5â€"8:30 p.m. Includes Dessert 165 Country Squire Lane, Oakwille L6J 473 845â€"8642, 8459005 A GE“ERA mA‘“ D\'U B renenos Matthew Chronowic was among several Grade 6 students to gradâ€" uate recently from DARE at Pilgrim Wood School. DARE teaches kids to say no to drugs. _A _A | h. 1 #*4 / Includi Including ALL WINE them after they graduate from the DARE program, and by former DARE students who have expressed their gratitude to the constable for arming them with the necessary information. The DARE program originated in 1983 in Los Angeles where "there were major drug problems in the classroom," and tries to reach kids before they enter high school. Although Canada and the U.S. repâ€" resent just 2% of the world‘s popuâ€" lation they are responsible for in excess of 60% of all drugs used, he states. "It‘s an attitude problem," says Flameling, explaining that because children see their parents smoking and drinking, they fall into the same lifestyle and see nothing wrong with it. Although he has no hard and fast statistics to back up the program‘s success, Flameling is confident he reaches children and would like to reach more. As the program is set up now, "we‘re getting only threeâ€" fifths of the students . . . we require five officers," said Flamehnty Valid from While the U.S. has "in excess of 16,000 or 17,000 DARE officers," in all of Canada, there are fewer than 10 in both British Columbia and Ontario. The bottom line is cost, a pricetag that would hit the $375,000 mark in Halton for five DARE officers he says. (That figure includes salaries, annual reâ€"training and course material) In the near future, DARE will receive certification as a registered charity. There already exists a fundâ€" raising committee which holds regâ€" ular meetings and fundâ€"raising activities. Anyone wishing to make a donaâ€" tion to the DARE program, can send a cheque to the Halton DARE office, 1151 Bronte Rd. Oakville L6J 6E1. January c 1a, 1934 | * European to P||Snerand January | e [ ian 29, 1994 | Dry Lager érew cS BAKV I LLE