SHORTER DARE CALLED EFFECTIVE

MANITOWOC - Officers say changes made in the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program are apparently not making it any less effective for
Manitowoc Public School District sixth-graders.

Last year, the Manitowoc Police Department shortened the program from
17 weeks to 11 weeks, and combined some of the lessons, in line with
similar changes to the national DARE program planned for this year.

Officer Michaelyn Culligan, who teaches DARE to about 60 sixth-graders
at Stangel School, said her students are likely getting the same
amount, if not more, out of the shorter program and overhauled curriculum.

This is the third curriculum Culligan has dealt with in 13 years as a
DARE officer. She said the change has been for the better.

She said the role of the officer is now more of a facilitator than a
lecturer, and the curriculum is more hands-on, offering students more
opportunities for group work.

Even before the changes, Officer Richard Ladwig believed DARE was an
effective program. Students would come up to him years later to
explain how the program affected their lives.

He has been serving as an instructor for seven years, and currently
teaches at Jefferson and Monroe schools.

"It's still just as effective," he said. "It's still teaching
different ways to deal with different peer pressures."

There may be less material to cover in 11 weeks, but Ladwig said
officers could spend more time on the material they have.

"It's an excellent way for a police officer to get a relationship with
kids that they otherwise may not have the opportunity to get," he said.

Lt. Paul Schermetzler, Manitowoc crime prevention officer, said DARE
is designed as a preventative program to teach young people about the
different pressures and how to deal with them.

"You can grow up with a drug-free life," he said.

Statistics show a drop in the number of high school students using
tobacco nationally.

About 500 students will graduate from DARE next month. The ceremony
for students at schools on the north side of town will be at 1 p.m. on
Dec. 16 at Wilson Junior High School. Students at schools on the south
side of town will graduate at 1 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Washington Junior
High School.

State Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, Miss Manitowoc County Melissa
Luedtke and Assistant District Attorney Doug Jones are scheduled to
appear, as well as Mayor Kevin Crawford and Police Chief Perry Kingsbury.

Schermetzler said it's important for such dignitaries to come to
graduation so the students can recognize them as role models.

Ladwig said they also serve as proof to the youngsters that DARE
graduation is important and something they should by proud of
completing.