DARE IS A POSITIVE PROGRAMME

Dear Sir:

I live in the US and have close family ties in the Caymans so read
your newspaper to keep up with what's happening there. I felt the
need to write following comments published in last Friday's (9 June)
Bracker editorial about the DARE program on Cayman Brac. I've
knowledge of the DARE program both in the US and the Cayman Islands
by my son & kids of friends & family taking part in it.

Its a very positive thing and everyone I know who have had children
take part feel the same way. It is saddening to read the editorial.

I'm referring to the long list of negative remarks made concerning
the DARE program and the efforts by the RCIPS to bring it to our children.

I have one question: if the DARE program is trash as you believe then
tell us, what is your alternative solution? Oh, I'm sorry, it is
clear you don't have one, otherwise you'd have suggested it.

It is a fact as you wrote that millions of children around the world
each year take part in DARE. If so many kids in so many countries are
taking part, then there are that many educational authorities who
believe that it is of benefit to them. Are they all wrong?

Yes as you point out there are studies that suggest the program is
ineffective but you make no mention of the many studies that suggest
completely the opposite. The fact is no matter what the topic, from
tobacco advertising to the war in Iraq, depending upon which side of
the fence you sit on you'll always be able to find some report
somewhere to support your point of view and allow you to make
throwaway remarks.

This is nothing new.

Just an old journalistic trick called manipulation of the facts. Odd
then that you should accuse the DARE program of the very same thing.

Tell me exactly what study is it that says DARE INCREASES drug and
alcohol abuse? I find it hard to believe that a convicted drug user
or alcoholic ever turned round and said it was DARE that made me do it.

The DARE program my son attended was in fact knowledge-based contrary
to your comments. His workbook was filled with facts figures and
diagrams teaching him all about the effects drugs and alcohol have on
each part of the body. Far from learning parrot-fashion he was able
to understand WHY these things are bad for him and could sit down and
explain to me what he had learned. To see my boy thinking this way on
his own makes the DARE course completely justified in my opinion.
Anything that helps to protect our children in this way is vital.
There is precious little else on offer.

No, cops aren't usually trained as teachers or have years of
experience in a classroom, but DARE is about drugs and I would argue
a cop will have far more knowledge of this than any schoolteacher
would have. I'd rather have my child taught by someone who knows
their subject inside out than someone reading from a book.

To say that the police are doing nothing more than manipulating the
minds of ten and eleven year olds (quote) is hardly worthwhile
commenting upon other than to say shame on you. As a proud parent of
a now thirteen-year-old young man I am insulted at the suggestion
that the big, bad police man brainwashed him.

JT Miller

Editor's Note: A more careful reading of the Opinion expressed in the
Friday, 9 June edition of The Bracker and Little Caymanian would show
that it does not trash the RCIPS' efforts, nor support critics of the
DARE programme. It simply points out that criticism exists, and
suggests that this programme and its long term effectiveness, like
any other drug awareness programme, should be open to scrutiny. Just
one of the many reports that criticizes the DARE programme and
suggests alternatives is "Drug Abuse Resistance Education: The
Effectiveness of DARE", written by David J. Hanson, Ph.D, which can
be found at: http://www.alcoholfacts.org/DARE.html