DARE BENEFICIAL TO TEACHERS

While the Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) Programme is said
to be geared towards educating children about drug abuse, violence and
other criminal behaviour, the local DARE Coordinator Sgt. Lyndon David
is underscoring its benefits to teachers.

David explained that the benefits of DARE programme to children were
quite evident but he continued that the programme was just as
beneficial to teachers as it was to students.

"The DARE programme has a positive impact on the students and also
there are a lot of teachers who like the programme and they also are
involved in the programme.

"They would come and ensure that the classes are conducted the way
they should and they also participate in the lessons.

"Some teachers are enquiring about certain aspects of the programme in
terms of a particular topic.

"For instance, the effects of alcohol on the body, if the teachers do
not know about a particular heading under that topic, they would ask
certain questions for their own knowledge and whenever the students
are given homework, there are teachers who are there to assist the
students."

The local DARE coordinator said he has taken note of the enthusiasm of
some teachers who seem to be thirsty for DARE related
information.

"Apart from those students who are anxiously waiting for the DARE
programme to come, there are also teachers who are anxious for the
programme because they are getting information that they might not
have had before."

David explained that teachers, having gained knowledge about drug
abuse, violence and crime, would be able to better assist their
students in dealing with issues as they would be equipped with the
appropriate knowledge.

"They would be in a position where they would be able to identify some
of the signs of deviant behaviour in terms of use of drugs and so forth.

"Once they (the teachers) are in the classroom and they hear the DARE
officer indicate some of the signs or reasons why a person might use
drugs, they would be able to look for these signs, as well, and assist
the school.

"So at the end of the day, both students and teachers benefit from the
programme."

David said the DARE programme would commence in both the primary and
secondary schools later this year.