NEWEST D.A.R.E. OFFICER UP TO TASK

NEWFIELDS - Newfields Elementary School will have a new D.A.R.E. officer
after the holidays.

Cpl. Chris Hutchins of the Newfields Police Department will replace Police
Chief Art Reed as facilitator of the popular Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program.

Hutchins will teach chemical-abuse education to 30-35 fifth-graders in the
school.

Hutchins said he was recently certified as a D.A.R.E. officer, after a
two-week course. He will use a 10-week prepared curriculum developed by
D.A.R.E. America, the parent organization.

"In the first week, I'll introduce myself, introduce D.A.R.E. and tell
about the basic structure of the class," Hutchins said.

"Then, we'll talk about the effects of advertising, the effects of alcohol,
drugs and tobacco on the body, and peer pressure. It's basically about
making good decisions; it's a model for making decisions."

Hutchins said he will serve "more or less as a facilitator," and encourage
a lot of group discussion about the choices kids can make.

According to Hutchins, D.A.R.E. originated in 1984 out of the Los Angeles
Police Department. It has grown to be "a great program," with classes in
schools across the country.

"It's a good opportunity to involve kids in good decision-making skills,"
Hutchins said. "They learn the difference between what they perceive and
what's reality, and often it's two different things. We use a lot of
surveys. For example, is 'everybody' smoking?

A survey will show them that not that many are."

The program is funded by a line item in the Police Department budget.
Additional funds come from the Newmarket Masonic Lodge, private donations
and a raffle. Hutchins didn't know the total for the program, but estimated
it would be less than $4,000. Most of the money goes for workbooks,
D.A.R.E. T-shirts and other incentives, he said.

Newfields Principal Dennis Dobe said Chief Reed did "a tremendous job" when
he was D.A.R.E. officer. According to Dobe, Reed has stepped down because
of increased responsibilities with his job.

But Dobe expects great things from Hutchins, too. "He's well-known to our
students and staff," Dobe said. "He's been a crossing guard before and
after school, and when there was a concern about security last year, he was
in the school for several days."

Dobe said he believes in D.A.R.E., even for a small rural community such as
Newfields.

"The more education, the better," he said. "The more training and
experience we give them, the better prepared they are to face the future.
Our job as a public school is to prepare them with the knowledge, skills
and experience to be successful."