Pubdate: Wed, 12 Jun 2002
Source: Terrace Standard (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Terrace Standard
Contact:  http://www.terracestandard.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1329
Author: Jennifer Lang

UNION SLAMS DRUG EDUCATION PLAN

THE APPROVAL of a parent-championed anti-drug program raises troubling 
questions on who decides what children are taught in the classroom, the 
Terrace teachers' union says.

The school board approved the program last week, after hearing a final 
pitch from a parent group, prompting the union representing teachers in 
Terrace, Kitwanga, Hazelton and Stewart to file a grievance.

In doing so, the board ended years of debate between local teachers and 
proponents of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, Program.

The Terrace and District Teachers' Union has long argued the 16-lesson 
program, taught inside classrooms by uniformed police officers, violates 
the collective agreement.

"Our position is you need a qualified teacher to teach the DARE 
curriculum," TDTU president Frank Rowe said. "You can come into our schools 
any time you like. You just don't come in and do our jobs."

Rowe said the board's June 4 decision also violates the School Act because 
it means an outside group is being allowed to determine what will be taught 
inside classrooms.

TDTU president-elect Richard Eckert said the decision raises concerns about 
community groups imposing curriculum on schools.

"During this whole debate, teachers have been coming up with rational and 
reasonable arguments," Eckert said.

What happened last week, he said, just proves people who yell the loudest 
get their way.

"They said, 'We want it, so we're going to get it'," Eckert said. "That's 
what happened."

A District Parent Advisory Council delegation asked the board to implement 
DARE, even though the district's education committee failed to endorse the 
program May 15. Instead, the committee recommended the district develop its 
own drug and alcohol awareness program.

DPAC representatives came away from that three-hour-long discussion 
determined to push for DARE, treasurer Linda Marshall recently told the 
Terrace Standard.

"We have very strongly said this is what we want," she said. "The union is 
saying 'No'."

Board vice chair Peter King moved to implement DARE where the necessary 
resources - trained DARE instructors - are available.

The Terrace RCMP detachment currently has two members who have received the 
DARE training, meaning it can be offered here as soon as September.

"My feeling on the DARE program is anything is better than nothing," King 
said, adding the district does have some programs, but he doesn't think 
they go far enough.

"Until something better comes along, I think we should proceed with it," he 
said. "At the end of the day it's up to the board to make a decision. You 
always hope that you have a buy-in from everyone."

The DARE program was developed in Los Angeles to deal with drug and 
gang-related problems in schools. It's now expanded to nearly 30 countries 
across the world and is taught in neighbouring school districts.

Two private schools in Terrace, Centennial Christian School and Veritas 
School, have used the DARE program.

It's targeted at the Grade 5 and 6 level and covers drug and alcohol use, 
violence, and issues of self esteem, topics the teachers' union says are in 
some cases covered by existing initiatives.
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MAP posted-by: Beth