The Citizen, 1990-02-28, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990. PAGE 15.
HCBE launches new program to help battle drugs
BY BONNIE GROPP
In an on-going attempt to win a
battle in the war against drugs the
Huron County Board of Education
(HCBE) has launched a two-year
teacher in-service initiative in drug
education, which is to be in place
by September, 1991.
After consultations with educa
tors from across the province,
Education Minister Sean Conway
announced last November that
teachers from Grades one to three
would have to begin instruction in
drug education with the focus of
helping students develop a better
understanding of healthy practices
and living.
Sherwood Eddy, Chairperson of
the Drug Education Awareness
Committee for HCBE says that if
we follow predictions of what is
going on presently in the United
States where some governors have
already made statements to the
effect that the war has been lost,
we’ve got to start educating the
children early to help them make
the right choices. “The problems of
the U.S. usually take four or five
years to get to us so we are taking
what I call a pro-active stand as
opposed to a re-active one,” said
Mr. Eddy.
Mandatory drug education for
Grades four to 10 came into effect
in Ontario last year, with the
tT i emphasis on tobacco use in the
classes up to grade six and then on
the use of cocaine and marijuana
for students in the higher grades.
HCBE Superintendent of Pro
gram Arnold Mathers outlined
some of the work that had already
begun in that direction in the
county schools saying a significant
Health care workers
will face ethical issues
Continued from page 14
ing whatever will benefit most
people), liberal individualism or
Catholicism. Then ascertaining
your principles which may be to
respect autonomy, beneficence or
preserving life is the next step. The
next level of the formula is to look
at your set of rules which may be
not to kill, to tell the truth or keep
confidence and by using these
three frames, make a judgement.
In conclusion, Ms. Downie ex
plained that she wasn’t speaking to
them to give answers, simply
drug education program (the Lions
clubs’ Quest program) was started
about four years ago in Grades 7
and 8 as part of the Health and
Guidance instruction. Then last
year the Kinsmen and Optimists
introduced a program in the secon
dary schools which they called
“Stars” that was chosen by all
schools but Clinton where only
health and guidance students had it
offered as part of their curriculum.
This year in May, the program is
called “Choices” and it will be
taught at all county secondary
schools and all students will parti
cipate.
Until the Ministry’s announce
ment, these programs have either
been taught by counsellors or by
health and guidance instructors.
However, the decision of the
Ministry now is that the thrust of
this responsibility should not be
turned over to only certain teachers
but should be something that all
teachers can deal with comfortably
and knowledgeably. “If an issue on
drugs should come up in class then
there should be a competent person
at the front who can talk on it,”
says Mr. Eddy.
To ensure that teachers receive
the necessary education, $5.2 mil
lion has been provided by the
Ministry to the school boards for
teacher training. A formula was
established for distribution of the
money depending on the size of the
board and the number of teachers
involved. The original HCBE Drug
Education Awareness Committee,
that was established in April 1989
and was comprised of representa
tives from London’s Addication
Research Centre, Huron Addition
because there are no answers to
give. Rather, she was there to
bring into light some issues that
health care professionals will face.
Rev. Snihur said that discussions
like the one with Ms. Downie
should be held more often because
“It gets all of us in the caring
profession to think about what we
are doing and raises questions as to
whether some of the things we are
doing are appropriate.” He added
that ‘It’s important to keep raising
these questions if we ever want to
reach some sort of consensus as a
society towards ethical issues.”
Assessment Referral Centre, and
elementary and secondary school
administrative and teaching staff,
developed a plan and submitted a
budget late last year to the Mini
stry for approval. The proposal was
okayed and according to Mr. Eddy
the Ministry will continue to moni
tor its progress.Continued on page 16
Public speakers
The Legion public speaking contest between Blyth Public School and Hullett Central was held at
Hullett on Friday and JodeeMedd (far left) of B ly th took first place in the Intermediate division while
Jason Dalton (left) came in second and Kimberley Richmond (right) and Ryan Chamney (far right)
tied for third. Jodeewill go on to the Legion Zone level competition at the Clinton Legion on March 3.
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Blyth
523-9722
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HCBE’s allocation of the grant
for the first year was in the amount
of $20,000 and Mr. Eddy claims
that they can expect about $15,000
for the final year.
Most of the early planned events
for the training program are al
ready in place, Mr. Eddy stated,
saying that the newsletters to be
distributed to the administrators
explaining the events are ready. In
may at a half-day session, the
committee will introduce the plans
to the principals and vice-princi
pals.
Representatives from the schools