LUNCH WITH POLICE COULD WORK WONDERS

The evidence is in that the DARE program has little effect on drug usage.
However, everyone seems to agree that the program enhances youth-police
relationships. I wonder what would happen if a neighborhood police officer
stopped in once or twice a week to eat lunch with the students in the
cafeteria. It seems to me that community relations would improve, relevant
issues could be casually discussed, and respect for others could be
reinforced. All this could be done without using valuable class time, at no
cost to the taxpayer, and without taking officers off the street imagine
how lunchroom discipline might improve as well.

Barb Cooper; Springfield Township