PEER PRESSURE: COUNSELORS GIVE MESSAGE TO STUDENTS

SCOTT CITY -- A team of three karate counselors broke a few boards and, they hoped, some myths about suicide and drug abuse.

The Breaking Point Foundation, based in Springfield, Mo., brought a message about avoiding negative peer pressure to Scott City High School Thursday.

Loud music and martial arts skills combined with humor and audience participation captured the attention of the audience.

Steve Thompson, creator of the Breaking Point Foundation, has been an adolescent counselor for 12 years. He also holds a black belt in the martial arts.

"You can't talk to kids about important issues if you don't get their attention," Thompson said in an interview. "You can't reach their emotions if you don't stimulate their emotions."

He said other presentations use shocking stories or emotional tales to reach students. The Breaking Point program combines martial arts feats with humor. The team did a spoof on Jung Fu movies and practiced karate kicks on a teacher.

"Humor is an emotion and we think it works," Thompson said.

After the large, group demonstration and presentation, the three members of the team met with all the high school students in small groups during the afternoon.

"That's really where it happens," Thompson said. "The large group is much like an introduction. In the small groups we answer questions, do some role playing with the kids, and give them a chance to ask us personal questions."

Thompson said he was motivated to start the Breaking Point Foundation about six years ago after working as a crisis counselor with teens.

"So much of what I saw was negative the aftereffects of suicide attempts and substance abuse," Thompson said. "I decided I had to do something in the way of prevention and intervention."

The foundation has as many as seven presenters who will travel to schools. Additional small-group leaders are also available for very large schools. The team presents about 100 programs a year. He said all the presenters are pursuing degrees in counseling.

Judy Bane, counselor at Scott City High School, said money to bring Breaking Point to the school came from a Drug-Free Schools grant.

"The program costs $1,000 and that's a lot of money for Scott City. We wanted to offer at least one program this year that touched all the students in the high school. She called other school officials who had seen the presentation. "They all said it's the best we've ever had."

Scott City senior Greg Klund agreed. "This is the best one I've seen on drug abuse and I've seen quite a few."

Klund had the dubious honor of participating in the performance. Four other high school students lined up on hands and knees while Klund lay on top of them. Thompson placed a board on Klund's stomach and chopped the board in two with a sword.

"It was fun and scary both," he said.