DARE PROGRAM

Educating Is Not 'Brainwashing' But Is Common Sense

As an 18-year veteran teacher and recent DARE educator, allow me to
provide some insight into my personal experience with the DARE program.

When DARE is implemented in a collaborative manner that utilizes the
strengths and experiences of both the police officers and the
educators, students are provided with realistic, effective,
age-appropriate skills they can call upon when they face inevitable
peer pressure to do drugs.

What parent would not want their child to be given strategies beyond
"Just Say No"?

Each year, I have students return to tell me that they used some of
the strategies we taught them.

It is unfortunate that DARE is no longer offered in Waimea, as I truly
saw it make a difference in the lives of many middle school students.

Many of the students on this island live in homes where family members
do drugs. Those particular kids in our DARE program who come from this
kind of an environment were so grateful to know that teachers and
police officers were there to listen to them and provide resources to
help them.

They grew to trust that no one was out to "bust" their family members,
but rather, help them figure out how to best get through their very
challenging life situation. Kids need to know that they can turn to
teachers, counselors, police officers and other community agencies for
help and guidance.

This is common sense, not brainwashing.

While my dream of a drug-free community is perhaps unrealistic, I can
do my part to teach my students what to do when confronted with drugs.
I can give them phone numbers to call when they need to find help for
a loved one. These simple tasks are worth the minimal effort it takes
to share them.

Liz Noetzel

Waimea