DARE NOT THE REASON STUDENTS AREN'T EDUCATED

If,as Santa Ana school superintendent Al Mijares indicated,the one hour lost
per week to teach the DARE program is a reason students are not learning the
basics["DARE on outs in Santa Ana?" Local News, Aug.12], one may suggest
it's not because of the one-hour DARE program but maybe a lack of a good
teaching program. If anything there are too few DARE officers and not enough
time is spent on drug awareness.

Also, if good student role models are hard to find, it's hard to understand
Mijares' objection to the popularity of DARE officers. DARE officers teach
kids how to stay clean from drugs and alcohol by learning ways to say no. If
Mijares does not want DARE officers to teach it during school hours then,
perhaps, he had better have the teachers do it. Everything must be done to
save our children. They are our future.

Joe Pitta Garden Grove