Teaching bored pre-teens is hard enough, but when you’re a police officer standing in front of the class it gets even harder.
So Pol. Capt. Prasom Boonman, who teaches the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in Pattaya schools, said he quickly realized focusing on just the facts wouldn’t work. So the deputy crime-suppression chief created his own curriculum that included games, entertainment and music to get the “just say no to drugs” message to sink in.
Prasom is one of 13 officers teaching D.A.R.E. to Pattaya 5th and 6th graders. The program, begun in the 1980s in the U.S., educates youths about narcotics, what drugs can do to their lives and the penalties they can face for using or selling them.
He spends an hour a week teaching classes and said he has been successful because it’s not just about written facts. He said it is important to tap into the minds of youths and conduct recreational activities while teaching.
His method includes entertainment and music to create a friendly atmosphere and bring youths together to work as a team.
This way, he is able to carefully monitor the behavior of each student and spot weaknesses he can improve on.
Lastly, Prasom said that he was happy with all classes as he’s managed to create a great bond with students. He was praised by the students as well for being a great teacher and being easy to relate to. His down-to-earth personality was the strong point with the children.
