Playing Games With Teens' Emotions or a Unique Way to Scare Kids Straight?

When I visited schools in Western New York this spring to tell them Karen's story, there were quite a few tears. Some shed by me as I shared the emotions of what my family and I have been through in the past 10 years, and some more shed by students in the audience who could relate to something I said. In my presentation, I go through the entire experience of
March 6, 1998 - what it was like being told that my only sister was killed by a drunk driver.

In a California high school last month, police officers visited 20 classrooms with news that several students were killed in car wrecks. Kids became hysterical. Hours later they were told that it was all an exercise designed to "scare kids straight" about drinking and driving. School officials have come under criticism for the tactics they used.

One Buffalo News reader in Orchard Park felt firmly objected to the tactic.

What do I think as a "crusader" against drunk driving? I have mixed emotions on what these CA administrators did. While I agree with the Orchard Park reader that they toyed with the kids emotions, I do know that sometimes teens just don't hear the message. Assembly after assembly this prom season I would see some kids leaving with a look on their faces that they still believed that they are invincible, thinking perhaps "even though Karen was killed, it won't happen to me". Perhaps telling students that their classmates were killed in crashes was the only way school leaders could get the message across. Will it save lives? Perhaps.

What I've been saying all along, is if I can impact one person sitting in each of those assemblies, it will be worth it. These school officials probably left a lasting impression on a lot of students.

Feel free to post comments to this blog if you agree or disagree.

Until next time...
Deanna

Deanna & Jen Go to the Prom

It's been 15 years since my prom. Hard to believe that it's been that long. Last night, I went back to the prom.

Why? A few months ago, when Jennifer Stehlar (Mrs. New York American Beauty 2008) and I talked about pre-prom assemblies, and getting the word out about the dangers of drinking and driving, I suggested going to the prom to give kids another reminder of the dangers of DWI right there at the event itself. Iroquois Central High School agreed, and last night Jen and I went to the prom!

The prom was held at the Hyatt in downtown Buffalo. We set up a table, I brought Karen's picture, and we encouraged teens to sign a "pre-prom" promise, pledging not to drink and drive and encouraging others to do the same. I am happy to say we collected 50 signatures from teens, and I was very pleased to see a few people signing the pledge without encouragement from Jen and I - they took the pledge on their own. We are proud of each and every signature received at the event, and Iroquois students really are a "great group of kids".

We enjoyed a delicious dinner with Iroquois faculty, and soon afterwards posed for our official prom picture. After a little coaxing from me, Jen and I stepped onto the dance floor and had a great time dancing up a storm! We even helped crown the royal court - prom princess, prom queen, etc. for the event. It was a pleasure being part of last night's special event for Iroquois seniors.

I've attached several pictures from the prom to this blog, and my second blog on Buffalo.com/YourHub has more observations on how times have changed since my prom.

A special thank you to Jenn, Iroquois Principal Dennis Kenney, Trooper DePlato, Jeff Toy, and many others who made the night so memorable.

Deanna

Teaching Teens a Lesson in O.P.

Today was "Senior Day" at Orchard Park High School, and it began with a very serious message. Teens were taken outside and witnessed a mock car crash, right outside their high school gym.
Orchard Park's SADD chapter, Orchard Park Police, local firefighters, and Mercy Flight all participated in the staged accident. Two cars were involved and a third mini-van actually exploded.

Five teens were involved in the mock crash. Both teen drivers were driving under the influence - one under the influence of alcohol and the other had drugs in his system. It was a fatal wreck, so Orchard Park's seniors actually witnessed one of their classmates being put in a body bag.

It was emotionally jarring for me. I've seen plenty of these re-enactments on TV, but up close, and seeing the wreckage and police and fire crews rescuing the victims brought me back to my sister's crash 10 years ago.

Here's a link to WIVB-TV's news story on the mock crash.

I was at the school to work the mock crash into a video project I'm producing with STOP DWI of Erie County, before my presentation to seniors for their assembly. I also interviewed police, a prosecutor and volunteer firefighters for that project.

Following the mock crash, seniors were taken into the auditorium to see the teens charged and placed in jail on video. Orchard Park Police Officer Patrick Fitzgerald and Assistant District Attorney Brian Parker then talked to students about the dangers of DWI, before I told them Karen's story.

Teens were very attentive and I was impressed by the response. It was the first opportunity for Garrett, my brother-in-law, who's also a senior at O.P. to hear Karen's story, and I was glad he was able to hear the presentation.

A special thank you to O.P. for their generous donation to Crusade Against Impaired Driving. Another thank you to Larry Goble for organizing the mock crash and assembly and Don Lorentz, who helped with the video project this morning.


Deanna