DARE DESERVES A PASSING GRADE

I am disappointed by "Dare to end the DARE program" [Editorial, Dec.
6], which all but celebrates the impending demise of DARE (Drug Abuse
Resistance Education) in Suffolk.

I cannot speak to the so-called national and local studies that claim
the program failed in its mission to decrease long-term drug use.
Yet, I can attest to this: As an elementary schoolteacher until my
retirement in 2006, whose students were involved in DARE since its
inception almost 20 years ago, along with its later counterpart, the
STARE (Stop Anti-Semitism and Racism Everywhere) program, I can
confidently say that both were meritorious.

They were led by caring and dedicated police officers who were able
to motivate and engage my students as well as my colleagues and, at
the very least, raised both students' and adults' levels of
consciousness when it came to hard-hitting topics, such as
drug/alcohol abuse, peer pressure, violence, stress and prejudice.

No matter how skilled we classroom teachers may be, we could never
have exercised the same authoritative impact of experienced uniformed
officers who directly dealt with the aforementioned critical issues
on a regular basis.

As a result, students and educators alike gained a knowledge and
perspective that included trust, admiration and respect for the
gallant work that police officers perform. I doubt there is any
statistical study that could accurately measure the attitudinal
benefits derived from the DARE program.

The critics of the DARE program need to ask this question: If the
program was not a success, then why, in a climate of ever-increasing
local taxes, have Suffolk school districts, led by parents, board
members, administrators, teachers and students, vigorously lobbied
the Suffolk Legislature year after year to keep DARE alive and thriving?

Perhaps the answer is because DARE has made a difference in the lives
of our children as well as our communities.

Fred Seiden

North Babylon