ST. MICHAEL FIFTH-GRADERS SAY DARE PROGRAM AN INSPIRATION

HUDSON -- Fifth-graders at St. Michael Elementary School told parents at
their DARE graduation that they now have the tools to avoid getting hooked
on drugs.

The school's and Hudson Police Department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education
program (DARE) proved to be quite inspirational and a source of new
insights on self-image and peer pressure, students wrote in their classroom
essays following the 10 weeks of DARE education.

The DARE program has helped students understand the dangers of drug abuse
since 1984 thanks to individuals like Hudson Police Officer Tom Crippen,
who has been involved with the program for four years. Teachers and
students say the message of the 20-year-old program remains loud and clear.

For 10 weeks, 15 fifth-graders met weekly with Crippen. One of their first
assignment was to learn the slang words that refer to illegal drugs. Then
they performed role-playing skits on ways to successfully handle the peer
pressure associated with the drug-abuse culture.

"The kids were really curious on how to react to peer-pressure situations,"
said Crippen. "We also had lessons about how media pressure can play a
large role on self image."

Every week, students could write questions related to the issues being
discussed and put these questions in a box for future discussion. Each week
three questions were drawn from the box to be answered and discussed.

Crippen said the DARE program has evolved over the years to encompass much
more than drug resistance. For instance, stress and over-exertion have also
become common topics of discussion.

"We build up their confidence and self-esteem by getting them to be
assertive and stand up for their rights," he said, as well as understanding
the rights of others.

Linda Coldrick, a fifth-grade teacher at St. Michael, said she is
particularly proud of Crippen's leadership and in the students' effort to
embrace the DARE message.

"These lessons give the children an invaluable chance to express their
fears and emotions. We at St. Michael promote a drug-free, high self-esteem
atmosphere and believe the DARE program to be an asset to our environment,"
Coldrick said.

She said their DARE experience was expressed in essays they wrote at the
conclusion of the program. Of those essays, six were read aloud at the
recent DARE graduation ceremony attended by parents.

EXCERPTS FROM STUDENT ESSAYS

"DARE is a great program that changes people's lives. It isn't a waste of
time, and it has taught me a lot of things. It is a program that is truly
successful in the amount of days Officer Crippen had to teach us."

- -- Jamie Chaves

"I feel that if only one child is made aware of the dangers of drugs and
stays away from them, then the DARE program has proved itself with a
priceless service to the community."

- -- Steven Dube

"Officer Crippen has made an impact on all of our lives. He gave real-life
situations through acting and discussion. If it wasn't for DARE class,
there would probably be more people in the world doing drugs."

- -- Nichole Moura

"My DARE teacher, Officer Crippen, taught us how drugs can affect our
lives. I also have learned new vocabulary words, like peer pressure,
assertiveness and stressors. I though DARE was going to be a serious class,
but, wow, I was wrong. DARE was fun, educational and interesting."

- -- Dominic Cabral

"Before DARE, I didn't know very much about drugs, resistance, pressure,
and all the other things, but now I know all about it. In class, our
teacher had us do skits, write a five-paragraph essay, and work in our
workbooks. I'm really happy we learned all of this important information."

- -- Sara Bowen

"DARE had a great impact on me because I know that all children should have
it because you can learn more than you can think of, and there is a
policeman to teach it."

- -- Tatjana Sena

"I think it was a great thing to have at school. DARE is perfectly
educating no doubt about it. Officer Crippen is a great person, police
officer and teacher." -- Thomas Barry

"It is important for us to realize that we must feel good about ourselves
so we do not have to take drugs, which is the most important thing I
learned from Officer Crippen in class. This DARE program helps us to deal
with all types of situations and difficult peer pressure, which could arise
at anytime."

- -- Sara Drummey

"If your child did take DARE class, I guarantee you that you and your child
would be much happier. Your little boy or girl will feel much safer and
know what to do. I bet you one thing, that they will thank you for it too."

- -- Jordaine Condry

"DARE was wonderful, partly because of our instructor. He talked about
real-life situations through acting and discussion. Not too many people
would do that when you're learning something. If we didn't have it now, who
knows what our future would hold for us."

- -- Meghan Araujo