Pubdate: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 Source: Rensselaer Republican, The (IN) Copyright: 2007 The Rensselaer Republican Contact: http://www.rensselaerrepublican.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4309 Author: Brandon Hatfield Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) PROGRAM 'DARES' TO SAVE LIVES RENSSELAER -- Van Rensselaer Elementary fifth grade students were honored yesterday for the achievements they have made in the D.A.R.E. program over the last nine weeks. This year millions of school children around the world will benefit from Drug Abuse Resistance Education, (D.A.R.E.) the highly acclaimed program that gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs and violence. "I like the D.A.R.E. program because it puts a uniformed officer in the classroom," said Sheriff Orville Perry. "This builds a good rapport." Fifth grade students at Van Elementary have been fortunate enough to have participated in the D.A.R.E. program for the last 17 years. "The D.A.R.E. program can only do so much but with the positive reinforcement from parents it can go along way," said Deputy Jason Wallace. This will be Wallace's last year teaching the D.A.R.E. program, but Perry promised that the program will not die. Over the last 17 years 9,000 fifth grade students have been introduced to the D.A.R.E. program. "The D.A.R.E. program began in 1983 in California, and in 1990 became a part of Rensselaer," said Perry. When the D.A.R.E. program first hit Rensselaer schools it was under Sergeant Dave Schaetzel who worked with the program for four years, but with limited funds and man power Schaetzel stepped down and Sergeant Tim Bruce took over. "Tim was amazing. He managed to hold down the fort for D.A.R.E. for eight years," said Perry. "He pulled through and strived until something else came along, in which the program got handed over to Deputy Jason Wallace who has been doing it now for four years." "The D.A.R.E. program has passed through many hands, but it has been most difficult to keep going with limited man power," said Perry. "Here we have one man who travels to Van, Saint Augustine, Tri-County, KV, and Saint Christian. That is 500 students and 22 classes which is a lot to keep up with." The D.A.R.E. program is designed to build life skills to help them resist the peer pressures involved in schools today. "The D.A.R.E. program is an excellent program that really needs to proceed into the future," said Wallace. "I will try my best to make sure that it will continue." The D.A.R.E. program is run strictly on funds and donations. If anyone would like to make a donation or inquire about the D.A.R.E. program contact Sheriff Orville Perry at 866-7334. - ------------------ D.A.R.E. By Morgan Garrity The first words my D.A.R.E. officer said to us was "Hello Everyone!" I was thinking this program was going to be a walk in the park, but it turned out that D.A.R.E. filled me with facts about drugs and alcohol, what they were and what they do to your body. I have learned about response styles and the five types of peer pressure. As the days rolled on the facts from D.A.R.E. filled my head. Did you know that there are two hundred known poisons in cigarette smoke alone? I didn't, but it's those little facts that have impacted me in a way that has convinced me to stay away from things that harm my body. I believe D.A.R.E. is important because it teaches kids the effect of drug and alcohol abuse. It is also important because it teaches kids about how to stay away from situations where drugs and alcohol are present and if you're in those situations D.A.R.E. teaches you how to get out of them easily. The facts that I learned in D.A.R.E. were unbelievable. Did you know that alcohol advertisers put ads on baby bibs? The advertisers put colorful creatures on the ads and they attract kids of all ages. Tobacco advertisers put pictures to show that when you smoke you're cool! (Which isn't true). I have learned so much through D.A.R.E. Like how three thousand non-smokers die each year from breathing in other people's cigarette smoke! D.A.R.E. has taught me how to stop and think through things before I do them. I Morgan Garrity pledge to be drug and alcohol free and forever make wise decisions. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D