ANOTHER SEMESTER OF DARE KICKS OFF

As a DARE officer, it's Sterling Heights Police Officer Bev Zuelch's
job to make sure sixth graders know that using drugs, smoking
cigarettes and sipping beer isn't cool.

And from her experience, the message is getting across.

"I have kids coming back to me that are in high school now who
remember DARE," she said. "Parents say it works. I know it works."

Zuelch has taught DARE, or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, for the
past seven years. She recently kicked off another 16-week session of
the program, which all students in Sterling Heights experience just
before they hit junior high or middle school.

Classes are set up to be fun and interactive. There are videos, group
projects and role-playing activities. Workbook exercises stimulate
class discussions.

At an upcoming session, Zuelch plans to let students try on a pair of
glasses that simulate what it's like to be drunk. Those wearing the
glasses walk, or stumble, through rows of orange cones, seeing first
hand how alcohol can affect coordination. Zuelch shares some of the
real-life experiences she's had on the job, and peppers her lessons
with humor. She said it's what helps the message stick with students.

"I like to add humor to the class so they have fun while they're
learning," she said. "I give them the facts, and tell them what will
happen if they use drugs. I tell them real life stories."

There are several perks for students in the classes, like a free DARE
T-shirt and formal graduation ceremony at the end of the program.
There's even a special roller skating party just for DARE students
coming up in March.

At Harvey Elementary last week, Zuelch and a group of 25 sixth graders
talked about the consequences of using drugs and peer pressure.

During a role-playing exercise, she called DJ Rubino, 11, to the front
of the room. She asked him if he wanted a beer.

"No," he said.

And why not?

"It's bad for you," he replied instantly.

On his way back to his seat, one of DJ's friends gave him an
enthusiastic high five.

Near the end of the 45-minute class, Zuelch reached into a box and
pulled out questions submitted anonymously by students.

One wanted to know how old she was when someone asked her to smoke for
the first time. She said she was in eighth grade and refused because
she wanted to stay healthy to play sports.

Another student asked if nail polish is an inhalant. When Zuelch said
yes, a few girls in the class, like 11-year-old Susan Alexandrowicz,
shot their friends surprised looks.

"It's a good example for you for the rest of your life," Susan said of
the DARE program.

Her friend Kelly Dimovski, 11, agreed.

"It's good because you get to know the right and wrong things to do,"
she said.