BENEFITS OF D.A.R.E. PROGRAM

JOLIET -- This newspaper's Aug. 11 editorial criticized the D.A.R.E.
program as being ineffective. I would like to offer a different
perspective.

Over the last four years, I have been privileged to be part of a panel
that has read the essays written by 5th grade students from across
Will County describing what they have learned from the D.A.R.E.
program and what they believe is the importance of the program.
Without exception these students have related what the activities,
such as role-playing, have taught them about peer pressure and
believing in their own self-worth. They have also written about what
they have learned about the effects of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and
other drugs. They seem to understand the messages we all want them to
know.

What is often revealed in these essays are their personal insights. I
have read essays about parents or relatives who have been hospitalized
or died from the effects of tobacco or alcohol. I have read about
older brothers or sisters who have gotten involved with drugs and the
problems it has caused their families.

Perhaps one of the more positive effects of this program is not being
monitored or measured by any study--the relation of the students to
the D.A.R.E. officer. For many students this is the first time they
ever have had contact or established a friendship with someone in law
enforcement. I have read many accounts from the students about
personal conversations with the D.A.R.E. officer before, during and
after class. I have read about the D.A.R.E. officer staying around to
play ball with the kids after lunch or just sitting at the lunch table
to talk with the kids. Students also make note of female officers
providing a different role model or perspective.

I also serve on a different panel that reads essays from high school
seniors seeking a college scholarship from the Will County sheriff.
One of the questions addressed in these essays involves the students
offering suggestions as to how the sheriff's office can be more
effective. Countless times these high school seniors make reference to
having had contact with a D.A.R.E. officer in 5th grade and suggesting
that an officer come into high school classes to offer additional
insight on topics such as driving drunk. Often there are references to
the trust the D.A.R.E. officers engendered in the students.

Were it not for the D.A.R.E. program, the first exposure most kids
would have to law enforcement officers would be a negative situation
when the police were called or when they are stopped for a traffic
offense. The students would never get to know that people who wear
badges also play basketball, will join them for lunch, will listen,
will help them with a problem and will actually care about them as
people.

Can the program become a more effective deterrent to kids being
involved in drugs? Probably. There are few programs that can avoid
revision and improvement. Perhaps the theory of targeting kids at an
early age before they are exposed to drugs is only part of the
solution. Think of it as similar to an immunization shot. Most
immunizations require a booster shot or two in order to make them
effective. If there is no booster, then sometimes the original
immunization doesn't work.

The D.A.R.E. program is a powerful tool that can be used to accomplish
many things. I encourage those responsible for these programs to
collaborate with educators to find new ways to help our kids.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Richard P. Duran, Regional superintendent of schools, Will
County.