[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 66 (Monday, May 19, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE SUCCESS STORY OF REDWATER HIGH SCHOOL

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                            HON. MAX SANDLIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 19, 1997

  Mr. SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few minutes today to 
commend a school in my district that has bucked the trend, thwarted 
conventions, achieved the unlikely, and taken great leaps to eradicate 
drug use among its students. The school is Redwater High School in 
Redwater, TX, a suburb of Texarkana. Members from all quadrants of the 
community have come together in unified support of this program and of 
their teenagers who are struggling against a sea of drugs and gangs.
  In a sincere attempt to preempt the spread of drugs through their 
community and schools, businesses have given money and endorsements, 
parents have given their time and their hearts, and students have given 
their word and their enthusiasm. The result is that 100 percent of the 
class of 1997 at Redwater High School has volunteered to be tested for 
drugs and every one of them has tested drug free.
  Four fathers in the Redwater community, concerned for their 
children's health and well-being, initiated this unique program, called 
DADS, which stands for Dads Against Drugs in School. They decided that, 
since there are so many incentives for students to do drugs in society 
today, from peer pressure to movie glamorization, they should offer 
students greater incentive to stay drug free and a chance to prove that 
they are drug free.
  The program gives all Redwater students a chance for a voluntary free 
drug test at school with random followup tests. If they test drug-free, 
they receive a DADS photo ID card, which entitles the student to 
discounts at area businesses such as restaurants and clothing stores. 
No students who test positive for drugs will be criminally prosecuted 
as a result of their drug test. Instead, the students receive 
counseling from the school and, when appropriate, mentoring from 
volunteer fathers. As Redwater Superintendent Joe Dan Lee says, ``This 
program will reverse the peer pressure attitude among kids by giving 
them something to show for being drug free.''
  To me this program represents many aspects of what is right in our 
communities today. They used only $5,000 in government grant money for 
the program and funded the rest of the effort with community time, 
dollars, and concern. Through this program, the community has dedicated 
themselves to becoming a drug-free community, set high expectations and 
standards, and taken important steps toward protecting their children 
from the dangers of drugs.
  They have done this without cracking down, threatening their 
students, hiring more police officers, or punishing more children. 
Instead of frightening them away from drugs, the parents, teachers, and 
community leaders have strengthened the support network for students 
and given them reasons to stay off of drugs, averting trouble before it 
begins.
  I don't want the experience of Redwater High School to be an isolated 
incident. Schools across the Nation can replicate this effort if 
parents, teachers, businesses, and community leaders join efforts to 
help our children combat the peer pressure to become drug users. 
Keeping our students off drugs is one of our most worthwhile causes and 
an effective method of keeping our students away from a variety of 
other troubles.
  If, with this program, we keep just one student from the downward 
spiral of drug use to delinquency, I would consider it a success. I 
think, with 100 percent of the seniors testing drug free, that the 
first year of this program was an enormous success.
  I am proud of this community for their initiative, ingenuity, and 
determination. I am proud to see so many members of the community come 
together to work for this cause. Most of all, I am proud of the 
Redwater High students and especially the Redwater High graduating 
class of 1997 for being 100 percent tested and certified drug free.

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