DARE CONTINUES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Program In Its 16th Year At Milton

MILTON - Tough choices are made a little easier in the Milton Area
School District, thanks to a staple program that's been around since
1993.

The latest batch of fifth-graders at the three elementary schools
graduated this week from the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
program, organized locally by the Milton Police Department. That
includes seven classes and 172 kids, said instructor Jason Engleman,
also the school district's school resource officer.

The DARE program is as advertised and more. It includes enjoyable and
informational lessons on alcohol, tobacco, drugs, peer pressure and
related issues. "It's about staying in charge, and giving them the
knowledge of how to handle situations on the street that many will be
faced with," Engleman said.

Consider the numerous recent drug busts in the valley. The fifth-grade
program provides practical information that any young person can use.

"This is a little different that other classes," said White Deer
Principal Brian Parise to the fifth-graders and younger students at
the DARE graduation on Monday. "This is about life choices. There will
be tough choices to make (as you get older), but you'll be ready."

Even so, the program has its critics, questioning the effectiveness of
it in reaching children. Every Milton officer who's lead the program
over the years, however, is proud to have done so.

Det. Dan Embeck admits "it can be tough to gauge, but if you touch a
few it's worth it."

Retired Milton Police Chief Paul Yost there are "no negatives about
it. You hear it doesn't work, but it does.

"It's like preventative patrols, you just have to try. You don't know
what you could have deterred."

Cpl. Curt Zettlemoyer puts a lot of stock in the interaction of police
with children, DARE or otherwise. Years later, and Yost said he is
still approached by former students, which speaks volumes to him.

Monday at Baugher and White Deer, and Tuesday at Montandon were
celebratory times. The students finished their 10-week course at the
end of last year and had written an essay on what they learned in
order to graduate. A student from each school was awarded with having
the best essay. At Baugher, it was Alec DeBaro; at White Deer, Jordyn
Moran; and at Montandon, Julia Monti.

At White Deer, Engleman also announced the winning class of the DARE
box project. The classes were to come up with a unique "box" that
would be used to put questions in asked by the children. Nancy
Shearer's class with their "Senor Egg," a large egg made of aluminum
foil covered in decorations, was the winner.

Engleman is already looking forward to next year, when the DARE
program is expanded and the GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and
Training) program is offered. Fourth- and sixth-graders will be in the
GREAT program, and fifth- and seventh-graders will have the DARE
program. The programs will vary for each grade.

DARE began in 1983 as a joint venture between the Los Angeles Police
Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District. DARE came to
Pennsylvania three years later. Officer Dave Muffley, now retired,
became the first DARE instructor in the Milton Area School District.
It's estimated more than 3,000 Milton fifth-graders have graduated the
program since its inception in October of 1993.

Muffley was involved with the program seven years.

"I knew once we started, I knew we'd keep it going," said Muffley.
"The kids enjoy it, they really do.

"The first three years we did it, we financed the whole thing through
donations, then we received grants through the state."

Today, over 300 law enforcement agencies and 300 school districts in
the commonwealth are involved with the program. DARE is taught in all
50 states as well as 54 countries.