European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 28, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday december 28, 1992 education the stars and stripes Page 9 _ i Chicksands police help British school dare to fight drugs by Nancy l. Torner . Bureau Bedford England a British youngsters Are being dared for the first time to say a a not to drugs. The St. Thomas More upper school in Bedford is the Only school in the United kingdom to offer drug abuse resistance education. The program is being tested for one year with students who Are equivalent to ninth graders in the United states. The program was introduced at St. Thomas More in a collaboration Between the 7274th Security police so at Raf Chicksands Bedfordshire police and school educators. A this is the Best drug prevention plan that we have seen anywhere a said Eamonn Quinn who teaches physical education at the school. Quinn is one of a number of teachers whose regular classes were condensed to make time in the school Day for dare training Mary Makin Deputy head of St. Thomas More said the school had been seeking an innovative drug prevention program like dare that went beyond the usual scare tactics. She said the school does no to have drug problems but the Community does. A local British teen Ager died earlier air Force master sgt. Dennis Jennings Valerie Scarna reads a poem from a dare publication As sgt a1 Brasseaux looks on at a school in Bedford England. This year after taking the hallucinogenic drug known As  the youth did not attend the school but some children at the school knew the victim Makin said. Sgt. A1 Brasseaux and senior airman Thomas Steele with the 7274th Security police so also feel strongly enough about dare to teach the lessons to British youngsters on their own time. Brasseaux said he never thought twice about donating his time because a i live in the Community  Steele said he was prompted to promote the program in the local Community after he Learned there were schools in Germany new zealand Australia american Samoa and latin America that had adopted it. He said that under the program s copyright it had to be taught by police officers and that for some reason being american police officers had helped them to establish credibility among British students. St. Thomas More students apparently agree with Steele and Are equally enthusiastic about the program. A a it a a Good Way of putting the message across to the child a said Simon Marshall 14. A a it a Good that you come Over Here from America to Tell the kids about drug abuse prevention a Hugh Murphy 13, said that because of of the programs emphasis if somebody offered him drugs he would a just give them the cold  Sandra Greenfield 13, said that no one had Ever offered to sell drugs to her but that she had seen some teens on the Street with a White powdery substance. She said the program prompted her to think about what drugs could do. A i Learned How to say a not properly a said Valerie Scarna 13. A this dare really got it into my head that i should really say  a the program is designed to help Stem drug use by emphasizing such things As self esteem resistance to peer pressure and the dangers of drug abuse. The program was developed in 1983 by the los Angeles police department in collaboration with area educators and was adopted by military Law enforcement and the department of defense dependents schools in Europe in 1988. A we see it As sort of an insurance policy a Makin said. A dare coincides so closely with our principles. We like the positive presentation to  Makin was introduced to the program by detective Constable Roy Warren with the Bedfordshire drug squad. Warren became familiar with dare through a Long standing Liaison Between local police and . Bases. Warren said that he was a completely sold on the program and that when air Force master sgt. Dennis Jennings senior airman Thomas Steele responds to a students question during a drug abuse resistance education session at St. Thomas More upper school in England. Makin approached him about drug prevention programs he suggested she Call Chicksands Security police. However he noted that the British were famous for their Reserve and that it could take years before the program caught on nationally As part of the regular school curriculum. Even St. Thomas More which sought the program had difficulty finding time in the school Day to offer it Makin said. As a result the program was condensed. Makin said that she would like the school to offer the entire program on a continuing basis but that scarce funds and scheduling problems might interfere. Warren said he believed dare training should be taught in every school in the United kingdom. Although big time drug pushers Arentt a problem in Bedfordshire Warren said drugs Are available on the Street. The main drug in the area is marijuana followed in descending order by amphetamines Ltd ecstacy cocaine crack and heroin he said. A a it Sall available if you know where to go for it Quot Warren said which is Why he feels dare training is vital. A if dare works in the states now can we lose a american Indian exhibit a hit at Woodbridge by Meridith Winder . Bureau Raf Woodbridge England a what started off As an idea to Mark the Observance of native american heritage month turned into a showcase highlighting children a ingenuity at Woodbridge elementary school. The children put together a museum marking american indians contributions to the american culture. And although the museum was supposed to close after a two week stint ending nov. 30, it remained open until dec. 11 because of popular demand. A parents and teachers wanted to keep it open longer because it was so interesting a said Sharon freed the schools principal. The museum covered three rooms and opened after two weeks of preparation. A i liked it when we were making things a said Felicia Ryder a first grader. Pupils created some items on display such As masks Pine Cone dolls pottery Tepee and bows and arrows. Parents and teachers donated other items such As pottery paintings and carvings. The museum included exhibits exploring american Indian culture in the Northeast Southeast Plains Southwest and Northwest regions of the United states. Tribes represented included the cherokees Sioux and Pueblos. As part of the museum concept children sampled american Indian games based on historical research by faculty and children. For example Hunting and warfare were included in games played by Woodlands and Plains tribes. Weather and Corn were factors in games played by tribes in the Southwest. The schools multicultural committee developed the museum concept. The panel of teachers develops ideas to help children become better informed about world cultures