Pubdate: Wed, 19 Dec 2007
Source: Times Herald, The (MI)
Copyright: 2007 The Times Herald
Contact: http://www.thetimesherald.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.thetimesherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2570
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

CITY NEEDS NERVE TO SAY NO TO DARE

Roundtables Were Correct: Port Huron Can't Afford This Sacred Cow

If you need an example of why governments are so often in financial 
hot water, look no further than the simmering controversy over the 
DARE program in Port Huron.

In September, the cash-strapped city decided to end its subsidy for 
the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. It seemed a prudent 
decision, if only because DARE is a notorious feel-good program. 
Study after study has shown DARE is approximately as beneficial as 
trying to help a drowning man by hiring a cheerleader to wave pompoms 
and urge him to swim harder.

A few years ago, members of Congress asked for an honest assessment 
of DARE. In response, researchers with the General Accounting Office 
analyzed six studies and concluded the program is a waste of time and 
money.  Of course, the program's most-fervant backers - people on the 
public payroll, for the most part - don't want to acknowledge this. 
They'll hoot down any criticism.

"DARE is a political football in any local community," Dick Clayton, 
a researcher at the University of Kentucky, told the Pittsburgh 
Post-Gazette. "It makes parents feel good that there's an officer in 
the school. Those who are critical of it - and there aren't many - 
don't want to be perceived as being against the police. It's much 
easier to stick with what you've got."

That's fine, except Port Huron cannot afford to throw away money on 
touchy-feely endeavors of no practical value.

Nine months ago, City Manager Karl Tomion warned of bankruptcy within 
five years if the city did not slash spending or increase revenues. 
At a budget workshop in May, the City Council wrestled with a long 
list of cuts, many of them quite painful.

In September, the outgoing council approved a 66.6% increase in water 
rates as well as $6.6 million in budget cuts. It ordered the fire 
chief to eliminate six front-line jobs and called on the recreation 
director to raise fees dramatically. It also asked the police chief 
to save $245,000 a year by dropping the animal control, community 
service and DARE officers.

Then the howling began. The police officer's association gathered 
signatures to roll back the cuts.  At a council meeting, a former 
leader of the teachers union joined with Prosecutor Mike Wendling and 
District Judge Cynthia Platzer in asking the council to restore the 
DARE officer.

DARE sounds good. It feels good. Unfortunately, there is no tangible 
evidence that children who complete DARE training are any less likely 
to use drugs than other children. At least one study in Illinois 
suggested just the opposite, that students who took the training were 
significantly more likely to experiment with drugs.

None of this is new. Doubts about DARE have made headlines for years. 
Those who continue to promote DARE, no matter how well intentioned, 
stand guilty not only of wasting tax dollars but of deceiving the 
public with false hopes.

Port Huron has better ways to spend its money. For starters, it might 
keep its higher-priced recreation programs available to children who 
otherwise will be left on the street with the drug dealers. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake