Pubdate: Mon, 18 May 2009 Source: Maui News, The (HI) Copyright: 2009 The Maui News Contact: http://www.mauinews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259 Author: Wayne N. Hedani WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE TO SCHOOL DARE PROGRAM? It is not enough to criticize a program which intends to offer drug resistance education to our youth unless you have a better alternative (Letters, May 15). Critics point to national assessments and bemoan a purported ineffectiveness of the program. What have they done to help the situation? Is less information and education better? When my children, who both graduated and are now productive members of society, were attending public schools about 95 percent of their schoolmates were thought to have tried an illegal substance as least once during their school years. That meant to me that there was a 5 percent chance my kids could make it through school without abusing drugs. It's not scientific. It's what the kids told me. So, do we just sit back smugly and bemoan the situation or do something productive about it? If the program reaches one child, it is worth supporting. Wayne N. Hedani Wailuku - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom