Education Notebook

ELEMENTARIES 'TURN THEIR BACKS' ON DRUGS

Hoods were in front. Buttons were in back. And some outfits were
reminiscent of the '90s hip-hop duo Kris Kross - best known for
wearing their clothes backward.

These were the fashions at Shambaugh Elementary as students "turned
their backs on drugs" to celebrate Red Ribbon Week last week.

Schools across the country recognized the anti-drug week, which ends
today, with a variety of activities. In Fort Wayne Community Schools,
students received candy and pencils with drug-free messages, attended
assemblies to hear about living drug free and wore silly outfits to
symbolize drug-free phrases.

Third-grader Allie Stieber turned her bright pink corduroy so the
buttons were in the back.

"It means we're turning your back on drugs," she said. "We're
thinking to be drug free."

Brooke Houshoulder wore her navy blue long-sleeve shirt so the
butterfly was in the back and the tag inside was in the front.

"Drugs are bad," she said. "They can kill you."

Shambaugh administrative intern Kathy Hurni-Dove said participating
in the drug-free week is good for elementary schools.

"We feel the earlier that children learn to say no to drugs and turn
their backs on drugs, the better," she said. "Children are very
impressionable at a young age."

Students at Shambaugh also made posters with drug-free slogans, such
as "Share a book, not a joint" and "If you do drugs, you'll get stuck
with thugs."