Stoneburner talks to DARE graduatesSays parents

to blame for

dysfunction

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- State Court of Appeals Judge Terri J. Stoneburner addressed students, parents, teachers and administrators at the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Graduation 2003 Friday at Washington Elementary School.

Stoneburner -- a former Brown County District Court Judge -- said she saw too many junior high students in this "idyllic" community that dropped out of life due to drugs and alcohol.

On top of that, parents often had an unconcerned attitude that their children were only "experimenting" with drugs and alcohol and wouldn't be harmed, said Stoneburner.

"Teens shouldn't have to face drug and alcohol rehabilitation," Stoneburner said. "Drug and alcohol programs are essential to give students strategies to combat those vices."

Students Stoneburner heard in district court years ago in New Ulm often were so intoxicated, they didn't know they were sexually assaulted at parties. Now she hears state cases, 75 percent of which involved alcohol or drugs and 90 percent of those are domestic violence cases.

She told of a recent case in which a teen lost his childhood due to drugs and will lose much of his adulthood due to prison time.

"Use your concealed weapon -- your head," Stoneburner told students. "Keep on learning successful strategies to deal with life. Make positive choices, even if it makes you feel uncomfortable at the time. Eventually, others will envy you."

Fifth-grade class representatives were chosen by the quality of their essays. Class reps were Danny Farasyn, Jamie Gieseke, Nick Wilfahrt, Trisha Johnson, Caitlyn Anderson, Kassi Hague and Janelle Curry. All students called for the continuation of the DARE programs to keep them strong in the fight against drugs and alcohol.

Farasyn said DARE inspired him to stay off drugs and make positive choices. Gieseke said the skits were fun, taught him to walk away from drug offers and change the subject.

Johnson said she learned many ways to say "no" to drugs, how to be assertive, help herself and be successful in life. Anderson said DARE prepared her for tough situations and ways to deal with them.

Hague said she learned the consequences of drugs and that violence doesn't solve problems, it just creates more. Curry said learned what drugs, alcohol and violence can do to her body. She learned she had the right to be happy, learn and interact with people that care for and understand her. She said every person has those rights.

Students sang the DARE song, "I Will Chose the Way That's True," after receiving their certificates and t-shirts.

New Ulm Police Officer Dave Borchert thanked Washington Elementary music teachers for helping ready students for the program. He said the role playing in the program will help students prepare for real world situations.