Pubdate: Wed, 29 Aug 2007
Source: Greensboro News & Record (NC)
Section: Counterpoint
Copyright: 2007 Greensboro News & Record, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.news-record.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/173
Author: R.A. Lawrence
Note: Lawrence is a School Resource supervisor.

DARE PROGRAM WAS POSITIVE INFLUENCE

This is in response to the letter, "DARE was ineffective, worthy of 
cancellation" from Max Holder (Aug. 15). I supervised the Guilford 
County Sheriff's Office DARE Unit for almost 10 years. I also was a 
DARE officer and sometimes filled in for officers. I also taught full 
curriculums at school to stay current on my DARE certifications. I 
thoroughly enjoyed my time spent teaching DARE.

I supervised some of the most professional and caring officers I ever 
met. They went out of their way for the children they taught and were 
often involved in unsung, behind-the-scenes activities to provide the 
students a better and safer school climate.

In this day and time, some students may never encounter a law 
enforcement officer in a positive setting outside of programs such as 
DARE. This makes the contact between students and the officer very 
valuable. Holder cites "scare" tactics and "brainwashing" as negative 
features. He may never have seen former DARE students run up and hug 
their DARE officer, behavior not indicative of "scare tactics."

The effects of drug usage are scary without embellishment. The DARE 
program is against the use of "scare" tactics. Holder states he can 
make his own decisions. I am glad he can, but good decisions are 
based on facts and the consequential risks involved. This is 
fundamental in good decision-making. DARE provides facts on drug 
usage that can be scary, but scare tactics and brainwashing aren't 
part of the curriculum.

Anyone can contact DARE America and obtain lesson plans. I urge 
anyone who doubts the program's techniques to do so and make up their 
own minds. As for Holder's comments, DARE provides knowledge for 
decision-making. Effectiveness may be in the degree to which the 
individual who attended classes may choose to employ these techniques.

Recently, one of our DARE officers retired. We figure he taught about 
14,000 students. It is inconceivable that some were not positively 
affected by this officer and the program. It is moot for now because 
the DARE program was canceled due to lack of funding. But to say that 
the program was ineffective for reasons cited by Holder is inaccurate.

The writer is a School Resource supervisor.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman