DARE BUILDS GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN STUDENTS, OFFICERS

Re: The problem With 'DARE' is that it doesn't work, Peter McKnight, June 2

I have been a police officer for 23 years and teaching DARE for the
last three. I am a passionate defender of the program. Beyond teaching
drug awareness, DARE creates an opportunity for a uniformed police
officer to enter a classroom of Grade 5 students for 10 one-hour sessions.

McKnight quotes studies that indicate DARE doesn't work when measuring
students' drug use in later life. However, these studies fail to
measure many other benefits of the program, such as the development of
a positive youth/police relationship and the instillment of positive
values.

Teaching students for 10 hours will not change their lives. Drug
awareness must be reinforced in the community, school and at home,
which many times it is not. We are left with only 10 hours in a
lifetime of education and experiences.

However, I know that the relationship I am building with these
students is valuable. I also know that I am teaching them important
information so they can make better and informed decisions later in
life. I believe this is a worthwhile investment. I believe a more
comprehensive study would prove this.

CONST. ANNETTE MARTIN

Richmond RCMP Youth Section