'CONSIDERING CONSEQUENCES'

Sixth-Graders Graduate From Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program

Carolyn Wade was as excited as the parents Wednesday morning in the
CMS auditorium, who watched proudly as their sixth-grade children
graduated from the 10-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.

Wade was a little relieved, too. As the Craig Police Department's
school resource officer, she was in charge of implementing the
acclaimed education program to eight classes of Craig Intermediate
School's sixth-graders -- a daunting task that required her to learn
165 student names and teach two D.A.R.E. classes four days a week.

"We really appreciate her effort. She does a great job," CIS
Principal Don Davidson said. "She put in a lot of extra time, she's
the lone D.A.R.E. officer, and she really loves the kids."

Wade was humble about her work, giving credit to her eager students.

"I'm very proud of them, they're so receptive. They had fun and they
learned a lot," she said. "They need it, too. Whether they're in a
small town or the big city, they're no less at risk of being exposed."

Wednesday's graduation ceremony honored three of Wade's students,
Lorelei Bagley, Dustin Willey and Steven Torres, who won awards for
the best essays submitted as the program's final, comprehensive
project. Bagely and Wade (on Willey's behalf) presented their winning
essays to the audience.

After the presentation of graduate certificates, Davidson reiterated
that the program's legacy "starts today," and that he hopes the
lessons will sink in so he can see the children making good choices
until their high school graduations.

D.A.R.E. is represented at no cost to the Moffat County School
District, and Davidson believes in the fundamental message that
D.A.R.E. spreads through the police officer-led K-12 prevention
programs in 43 countries, including 75 percent of school districts nationwide.

"It gives kids a good foundation for learning what's out there. It's
like a barometer for them to gauge right from wrong and helps develop
the necessary skills to resist subtle and overt pressures," Davidson said.

In 2004, the standardized D.A.R.E. curriculum was changed to
consolidate the lesson plans and refocus the various projects from
lecture-based activities to interactive projects, said D.A.R.E.
America Director of Communications Ralph Lochridge.

"Kids are always going to be curious. We want to provide accuracy and
facts, not perpetuate urban myths," Lochridge said. "Instead of
focusing on specific drugs, D.A.R.E.'s focus is on decision-making
skills to avoid high-risk behavior with the officer acting as a coach
for brainstorming and interactive projects."

Although the new curriculum stresses choice over drug specifics,
D.A.R.E. provides supplemental lesson plans for particular subjects
based on community need.

C.I.S. sixth-grade teacher Mary Blakeman, who acts as support staff
during the D.A.R.E. sessions, said the presentation on
methamphetamine, "really had a strong visual impact on the kids."

Despite the graphic meth presentation, Blakeman echoed Lochridge's
assertion about the program's benefit in teaching children to
"consider consequences and avoid bad situations."

Wade believed that the greatest improvement in the recent curriculum
overhaul was the refreshed use of technology.

"The world moves at a faster pace. They've got flashier movies and
brighter materials. The modernizing has made it more interesting," Wade said.

Proudly wearing their black D.A.R.E. t-shirts, the graduates from
Kathy Hollingsworth's class were enthusiastic about the experience.

Dario Georgiou said that the most helpful lesson was learning about
violence, dramatizing abuse by hitting Daren, the D.A.R.E. Lion mascot.

"We would have to do something humiliating after hitting Daren, funny
stuff like singing the teapot song," Georgiou said.

"It was important to know more about drugs," Brittany Rodriguez said.

"They gave us some information telling me how to avoid drugs and
violence," Jacob Ungefug said.