DARE PROGRAMS MORE THAN ANTI-DRUG EDUCATION

All area schools offer DARE classes at the fifth grade level, and a
few have the advanced seventh grade classes too. In addition to the
anti-drug and alcohol message, cops find DARE a way to show kids that
cops can be their friends and role models.

North Port police Sgt. Scott Graham waved across the parking lot at
one of his young students, then noticed her shaking her head and
pointing to her mother walking her to the car.

"She came from a family that didn't trust law enforcement," Graham
said. "Through teaching the DARE class, I was able to reach out to her
and become her friend."

Graham, one of several North Port officers certified to teach Drug
Abuse Resistance Education classes, gradually befriended the fifth
grade student. One of the aims of the program, he said, is for
children to see police not as enforcers or someone to be afraid of,
but as someone they can turn to as a friend.

At school, Graham's friend would run excitedly to greet him when she
saw him in the hallway. But that one day, when her mother was there,
she had to pretend not to know him.

"It's sad. We're here to teach the children and reach out to them,
show them police can be trusted. But often the only times their
parents have encountered law enforcement is in negative situations,"
Graham said.

Whether issuing tickets or arresting law-breakers, police are met with
fear or hostility by many adults. Those feelings are telegraphed to
their children, who are raised with an innate fear of police.

The DARE program, though, gives officers a way to relate to children
and shows them as an adult they can trust.

Begun in 1983 by then-Los Angeles police Chief Darrel Gates to combat
drug and alcohol use among high school teenagers, DARE is now taught
to more than 36 million students each year, and reaches more than 50
countries throughout the world.

Originally offered to fifth grade students, DARE now includes middle
school and high school level classes. Through DARE, students learn
ways to resist not only drugs and alcohol but also tobacco, bullying
and gangs.

Reaching middle school

A series of studies in the 1990s showed the positive effects of DARE
dissipated within a few years. In fact, some studies exposed a
"boomerang" effect in which youngsters who had DARE classes were more
- -- not less -- likely to use drugs, alcohol or tobacco.

Some school districts have begun adding advanced courses for middle
school students. Lt. Mike Anderson of the Charlotte County Sheriff's
Office said Charlotte is just into the second year of offering DARE in
some seventh grade classrooms.

"It's new so we're not sure what the impact is (on seventh grade
classes), said Anderson. "But so far it seems very positive."

He said the upper level classes cover much the same material as the
fifth grade course, but at a faster pace.

"There's more role-playing, which really helps kids deal with peer
pressure."

In Sarasota County, Lt. Tim Enos, who leads youth programs for the
sheriff's office, said one school -- Venice Middle -- has been using
the upper level DARE course.

"It's not whether DARE alone is effective," Enos said. "But the
effectiveness is largely getting law enforcement officers in front of
students, getting the message to the kids."

Enos said DARE presents an opportunity for students to see law
enforcement as a combination of teacher, counselor and role model.

"It gives kids a chance to ask law enforcement officers questions and
get straight answers," he said.

Enos has taught the classes, and said he adapts the lesson plans to
cover Sarasota-specific issues. The classes are not limited to just
drugs and alcohol; now they include conflict resolution, gangs,
personal safety, theft and vandalism and even sexual harassment.

"It's helpful to have that boost in the middle school years," Enos
said. He sees the classes expanding to include more topics that affect
students, such as Internet safety.

"Whatever curriculum is used," Enos said, "every time we get a chance
to talk to the kids helps."

At the high school level, rather than teaching DARE classes, North
Port School Resource Officer Joe Reed has his own program.

"I show them a lot of before-and-after pictures of meth
(methamphetamine) users," said Reed. "Kids are really grossed out at
how fast it ages you."

Lt. Curt Mays with the DeSoto Sheriff's Office oversees four DARE
instructors in DeSoto schools. The classes are now offered in fifth
grade only, although DeSoto once had higher-level classes too.

"At one time we discontinued it altogether under a previous
administration," Mays said, "but we've returned to it."

He said they feel it's an effective program to give students the tools
they need to make sound decisions. "I've had parents tell me their
children come talk to them about tobacco and alcohol use after DARE
classes."

He has noticed the new curriculum is more interactive, and the SROs
are encouraged in that direction too. "Anything we can do to promote
law enforcement officers as friends is worth it," he said.

Not those 'scary monsters'

What do the kids think? North Port High School senior Mike Corby said
he remembers having DARE classes in fifth grade.

"I remember a lot about it. I could probably even remember the song we
learned about the effects of drugs," he laughed.

As early as seventh or eighth grade, Corby said he felt pressure from
peers to experiment with drugs. "I remember in eighth grade hearing
some other kids say, 'We got high on OxyContin.'"

Jessica Rodriguez, a junior at North Port High, recalls her DARE
classes at Toledo Blade. "Those lessons are still pertinent today,"
she said.

"We learned creative cool ways to say 'no.' One of my favorites was,
'No, I'd rather spend my money on my Mom,'" she laughed.

A way to reach out

Heron Creek Middle School SROs Lee Wallace and Ty Newman said although
some DARE students still get in trouble, the program does help make
police more approachable.

"It helps break down barriers with law enforcement," Wallace
said.

Wallace said the DARE training is rigorous, but a good teacher can
make a strong impression.

"Where else would cops be able to spend 10 weeks with 25 kids?"
Wallace said.

But Newman also questioned whether DARE is covering such things as
inhalants or prescription drugs.

"There's easy access from their parents," Newman said, "and kids this
age don't understand the ramifications of messing with prescription
drugs."

SRO Sean Viara just finished teaching his first round of DARE classes
last fall. At the graduation ceremonies, he was nervous -- mostly
concerned his eyes might mist up as he watched the students receive
their certificates and medals.

Viara said, "Teaching is a lot like sales. You have to adjust your
style to what works in that classroom."

Being greeted by his students outside the classroom, Viara said, is
very rewarding. "I'm hooked pretty hard.

"I've had that much influence on those kids -- how could anything be
more rewarding than that?"