Editor,



This is in response to the article "PIECES discusses training meetings, drug transportation" program that was in the Logan Banner Sunday.

I am an elementary school counselor for Logan County Schools, and I was disappointed to read that no one was aware that the three elementary counselors implemented the 10-session program in their schools throughout the '07-'08 school year. At the beginning of the school year, we received the training to implement the program. Due to the fact that we each have three or more schools to tend to, it took more than 10 weeks to complete all 10 sessions. However, the students thoroughly enjoyed the lessons. Grades K-3 had a puppet that went along with all the lessons. Grade 4 curriculum was in the form of a newspaper. At one of my schools, we even had a school wide play, from a "Too Good for Drugs" lesson for 3rd graders.

This is one of several articles I have read where people meet and ponder who can implement these programs in the schools. What about the school counselor? We need to be utilized for our purpose in the school. We have to meet certain personal/social standards in our developmental guidance lessons (i.e. making safe and healthy choices, learning the dangers of substance use and abuse, learning to recognize and deal with feelings, learning self-control etc.). Many of our personal/social development standards were met through lessons from the "Too Good for Drugs" curriculum.

No, teachers do not need another program piled onto their already maxed out day. Please just don't forget that we do have school counselors. And, we did utilize this program in all the Logan County elementary schools this year. It is disappointing to me that this was not mentioned in the meeting.

And yes, we do need more after-school programs for students. If not for the academic assistance and the chance to shine, we need to offer them an environment that is safe and fun. All children do not go home to a safe place where they are valued and loved.

Thanks,

Emily Hill

Pecks Mill