Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jun 2004
Source: Racine Journal Times, The (WI)
Copyright: 2004, The Racine Journal Times
Contact:  http://www.journaltimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1659
Author:  Meredith P. Johnson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

BRING BACK D.A.R.E.

I am writing this letter to persuade you to support putting the
D.A.R.E. program back into Racine schools.

Students at my school, Racine Christian, strongly agree with me. That
is why the eighth-grade class conducted a D.A.R.E. program of their
own so that my fifth-grade classmates and I would have the opportunity
to learn about drugs since the original D.A.R.E. program was not
available. They thought it was so important they took the
responsibility to give us a six-session D.A.R.E. program. The
following are my reasons for keeping the D.A.R.E. program in Racine
schools.

First of all, though you may not see a large change in statistics in
result of the D.A.R.E. program, every person turned away from drugs
helps us get one step closer to drug elimination. Elimination of drugs
will make the world a safer and better place for the generations to
come.

The D.A.R.E. program helps kids like me, who already know drugs are
bad; know that they aren't missing anything. It also assists kids to
know the names of drugs so we can stay away from them. I didn't know
anything but a few general names for drugs until the eighth-graders
taught us many different names for them and their hazards.

The program also helps to keep kids out of depression and to boost
their self-esteem. Sometimes kids don't do well in school because they
think too lowly of themselves. If we keep the D.A.R.E. program going
we can help kids do better in school and as a result have a better
future.

I conclude in saying that I think the D.A.R.E. program is important
and I hope you decide to support starting it again so our upcoming
fifth-graders will be aware of drugs and their danger.

Meredith P. Johnson
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