Pubdate: Thu, 25 Mar 2004
Source: Tri-Town Transcript (MA)
Copyright: 2004, Tri-Town Transcript
Contact: http://www.hiasys.com/contactus/contactus.html
Website: http://www.townonline.com/boxford/news.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2643
Author: Ryan Allen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

ST. MICHAEL FIFTH-GRADERS SAY DARE PROGRAM AN INSPIRATION

HUDSON -- Fifth-graders at St. Michael Elementary School told parents at 
their DARE graduation that they now have the tools to avoid getting hooked 
on drugs.

The school's and Hudson Police Department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education 
program (DARE) proved to be quite inspirational and a source of new 
insights on self-image and peer pressure, students wrote in their classroom 
essays following the 10 weeks of DARE education.

The DARE program has helped students understand the dangers of drug abuse 
since 1984 thanks to individuals like Hudson Police Officer Tom Crippen, 
who has been involved with the program for four years. Teachers and 
students say the message of the 20-year-old program remains loud and clear.

For 10 weeks, 15 fifth-graders met weekly with Crippen. One of their first 
assignment was to learn the slang words that refer to illegal drugs. Then 
they performed role-playing skits on ways to successfully handle the peer 
pressure associated with the drug-abuse culture.

"The kids were really curious on how to react to peer-pressure situations," 
said Crippen. "We also had lessons about how media pressure can play a 
large role on self image."

Every week, students could write questions related to the issues being 
discussed and put these questions in a box for future discussion. Each week 
three questions were drawn from the box to be answered and discussed.

Crippen said the DARE program has evolved over the years to encompass much 
more than drug resistance. For instance, stress and over-exertion have also 
become common topics of discussion.

"We build up their confidence and self-esteem by getting them to be 
assertive and stand up for their rights," he said, as well as understanding 
the rights of others.

Linda Coldrick, a fifth-grade teacher at St. Michael, said she is 
particularly proud of Crippen's leadership and in the students' effort to 
embrace the DARE message.

"These lessons give the children an invaluable chance to express their 
fears and emotions. We at St. Michael promote a drug-free, high self-esteem 
atmosphere and believe the DARE program to be an asset to our environment," 
Coldrick said.

She said their DARE experience was expressed in essays they wrote at the 
conclusion of the program. Of those essays, six were read aloud at the 
recent DARE graduation ceremony attended by parents.

EXCERPTS FROM STUDENT ESSAYS

"DARE is a great program that changes people's lives. It isn't a waste of 
time, and it has taught me a lot of things. It is a program that is truly 
successful in the amount of days Officer Crippen had to teach us."

- -- Jamie Chaves

"I feel that if only one child is made aware of the dangers of drugs and 
stays away from them, then the DARE program has proved itself with a 
priceless service to the community."

- -- Steven Dube

"Officer Crippen has made an impact on all of our lives. He gave real-life 
situations through acting and discussion. If it wasn't for DARE class, 
there would probably be more people in the world doing drugs."

- -- Nichole Moura

"My DARE teacher, Officer Crippen, taught us how drugs can affect our 
lives. I also have learned new vocabulary words, like peer pressure, 
assertiveness and stressors. I though DARE was going to be a serious class, 
but, wow, I was wrong. DARE was fun, educational and interesting."

- -- Dominic Cabral

"Before DARE, I didn't know very much about drugs, resistance, pressure, 
and all the other things, but now I know all about it. In class, our 
teacher had us do skits, write a five-paragraph essay, and work in our 
workbooks. I'm really happy we learned all of this important information."

- -- Sara Bowen

"DARE had a great impact on me because I know that all children should have 
it because you can learn more than you can think of, and there is a 
policeman to teach it."

- -- Tatjana Sena

"I think it was a great thing to have at school. DARE is perfectly 
educating no doubt about it. Officer Crippen is a great person, police 
officer and teacher." -- Thomas Barry

"It is important for us to realize that we must feel good about ourselves 
so we do not have to take drugs, which is the most important thing I 
learned from Officer Crippen in class. This DARE program helps us to deal 
with all types of situations and difficult peer pressure, which could arise 
at anytime."

- -- Sara Drummey

"If your child did take DARE class, I guarantee you that you and your child 
would be much happier. Your little boy or girl will feel much safer and 
know what to do. I bet you one thing, that they will thank you for it too."

- -- Jordaine Condry

"DARE was wonderful, partly because of our instructor. He talked about 
real-life situations through acting and discussion. Not too many people 
would do that when you're learning something. If we didn't have it now, who 
knows what our future would hold for us."

- -- Meghan Araujo
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom