DARE PROGRAM WAS POSITIVE INFLUENCE

This is in response to the letter, "DARE was ineffective, worthy of
cancellation" from Max Holder (Aug. 15). I supervised the Guilford
County Sheriff's Office DARE Unit for almost 10 years. I also was a
DARE officer and sometimes filled in for officers. I also taught full
curriculums at school to stay current on my DARE certifications. I
thoroughly enjoyed my time spent teaching DARE.

I supervised some of the most professional and caring officers I ever
met. They went out of their way for the children they taught and were
often involved in unsung, behind-the-scenes activities to provide the
students a better and safer school climate.

In this day and time, some students may never encounter a law
enforcement officer in a positive setting outside of programs such as
DARE. This makes the contact between students and the officer very
valuable. Holder cites "scare" tactics and "brainwashing" as negative
features. He may never have seen former DARE students run up and hug
their DARE officer, behavior not indicative of "scare tactics."

The effects of drug usage are scary without embellishment. The DARE
program is against the use of "scare" tactics. Holder states he can
make his own decisions. I am glad he can, but good decisions are
based on facts and the consequential risks involved. This is
fundamental in good decision-making. DARE provides facts on drug
usage that can be scary, but scare tactics and brainwashing aren't
part of the curriculum.

Anyone can contact DARE America and obtain lesson plans. I urge
anyone who doubts the program's techniques to do so and make up their
own minds. As for Holder's comments, DARE provides knowledge for
decision-making. Effectiveness may be in the degree to which the
individual who attended classes may choose to employ these techniques.

Recently, one of our DARE officers retired. We figure he taught about
14,000 students. It is inconceivable that some were not positively
affected by this officer and the program. It is moot for now because
the DARE program was canceled due to lack of funding. But to say that
the program was ineffective for reasons cited by Holder is inaccurate.

The writer is a School Resource supervisor.