D.A.R.E. STRESSES ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE TO KIDS

ROSEVILLE -- Since 1983 the DARE program has grown and evolved to fit
the environment children are facing.

And the biggest change is in the acronym.

When DARE began in Los Angeles County, Calif., DARE stood for Drug
Abuse Resistance Education. Today, DARE also stands for define,
assess, respond, evaluate -- the four-step model law enforcement
officers ingrain in the minds of children during the program.

"I think the DARE model has given the kids the ability to actually
think through the problem," said Tim Taylor, a Roseville Middle School
science teacher. "They work through the steps to understand what might
and what might not be a good decision."

The DARE program began in Muskingum County in October 1997. Initially
it was a 17-week program, but two years ago it was cut down to nine
weeks.

When the length of the course changed, so did the role of the instructor.

The officer is now a facilitator more than a lecturer, according to
Bill Hoops, the Muskingum County Deputy who works as the DARE instructor.

"With the new curriculum you let them talk more," Hoops said.

Hoops added that he never tells the children "don't." Rather, he gives
the possible consequences to actions involving drugs and violence.

That first group of fifth-graders Hoops instructed this year attended
their graduation Friday at Roseville Middle School. In front of
parents and teachers the students received their certificate and
awards for completing the program.

Muskingum County Sheriff Bob Stephenson was on hand to congratulate
the children. Stephenson and others believe the DARE message is being
absorbed.

"I believe in it strongly," Stephenson said. "I think I have chosen
good people to instruct it, but we need (the support) of teachers, the
administration and the principal to get the messages to the kids."

Hoops said he thinks the fifth-graders learned lessons they can use
later in life. "Even adults have to say no too," he said.

Franklin Local Schools superintendent David Branch agreed.

"It is a great education program in our elementary schools," Branch
said. "The Sheriff's office does a great job assisting children to
work through a lot of issues they face today."

Hoops also thinks the program helps children look at situations more
maturely.

"We are getting kids who are making decisions in the fifth grade that
they wouldn't be making until the seventh grade," he said.

Although funding is continually being cut, the sheriff's office is
able to teach three sessions of the DARE program each year. During
each session, Hoops goes to three schools to teach the 45-minute program.

Next week Duncan Falls Primary School and Frazeysburg Intermediate
school will be graduating from the program.

Funding comes from the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Muskingum
County Sgt. Dan Marks said.

Marks started the program and taught it for several years. He now
works on getting the grants needed to keep the program running.

And that's important to Roseville Middle School fifth-grader Georgia
Rosser, 10, a recent graduate from the program.

"I think it should go on forever," she said. "(Students) should be in
it because it can help you say no to drugs and it can help you live
longer."