D.A.R.E OFFICER DEFENDS PROGRAM AS POSITIVE INFLUENCE

I was saddened to hear that the Columbia County school system has decided
to drop the D.A.R.E. Program because it was deemed a waste of taxpayer
money. As a D.A.R.E. officer, it seems I find myself defending D.A.R.E.
quite often - so here I go again. Our children live in a world full of
negative images from television shows like South Park and wrestling.
Children see thousands of murders before they become adults. Rap videos
teach materialistic lifestyles and disrespect of women. Look who their
president has been most of their lives - Bill Clinton. The media has a
great influence on our children.

D.A.R.E. is not a magic wand that you can wave for an ultimate cure.
D.A.R.E. has never claimed it was. It is a piece of the puzzle. The biggest
pieces of the puzzle, however, are still moms and dads and their ability to
teach the difference between right and wrong. No program can ever replace that.

D.A.R.E. is a positive program between school, police and, yes, parents.
People want to blame D.A.R.E. because our world is not a Mayberry. These
critics need to look again. At least we're trying. The culprits are our
society and our shortsightedness in allowing so many harmful and negative
influences in the lives of our kids.

It is everyone's responsibility to do everything we can for the next
generation. Our society is failing to do its job. Consider D.A.R.E.'s
objectives for students:

Instill self-esteem and learn to be assertive.

Explore positive alternatives to abuse and violence.

Learn anger management and conflict resolution.

Build communication skills.

Resist gang involvement.

Columbia County has taken something positive out of many children's lives.
Money is the bottom line, no doubt. Parents should be outraged.

Sgt. Mike Stafford, Sandersville, Ga.