DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Shafer Teaches Students Life Skills

Jeff Shafer never had to worry about drugs.

Luckily, Shafer knew through his upbringing drugs were not something to get
involved with.

Now that he has two small children, Shafer knows times are changing and it
takes a little more than parents to subdue the power of peer pressure.

"I'm always afraid of what my kids will and will not do," Shafer said.

Shafer took it upon himself to be that extra reinforcement in the lives of
children. He went through an 80-hour course to become the Drug Awareness
Resistance Education (DARE) officer in Grain Valley.

Now, Shafer spends two mornings a week surrounded by fifth grader students
at Matthews Elementary sharing his life experiences in hopes to have an
impact on their lives.

"The kids remember me every day," Shafer said "They tell their parents
about me."

Although being propositioned with drugs was never something Shafer had to
worry about, he is concerned his children will face it.

Children, as early as age 11, are being approached to try drugs, he said.

"When I was 11 and 12, I only had to worry about whether or not I was
outside after dark," Shafer said.

Still, he finds other ways to relate to his students. His secret weapon is
humor.

He uses the common stereotype of cops and doughnuts to show his students
they can still be confident although other people say hurtful things.

During one of his most recent lessons, he taught the students how to be
aggressive while refusing an offer of drugs. He told his audience there are
three ways to approach saying "no:" By being unsure, demanding or confident.

To further his point, he put the students in role playing games where they
had to, confidently, refuse requests from their peers.

A large part of his lessons deal with rights.

"Each of you has the personal right to refuse an offer of drugs, but you
have the responsibility to respect the personal rights of others," Shafer
tells his students.

The class, Shafer said, is not just teaching children to say "no" to drugs.
It is about teaching students life skills.

With every lesson, he tries to deal a with peer pressure.

Jake Stone, one of his students, already knows how stressful peer pressure
can be.

"Sometimes my friends tell me to do stuff I'm not sure of," Stone said.

Through his classes with Shafer, Stone said he is learning ways to say "no."

"I say I have to go do something," Stone said.

Making up an excuse is one of the eight ways of saying "no" taught in the
DARE program. The others range from giving the cold shoulder to walking away.

Stone said he's learned a lot in the eight weeks he's been in the DARE program.

Not only has it been a learning experience for him, but Stone believes he's
found a confidant in Shafer.

"He listens to what you have to say," Stone said. "He doesn't just ignore
some people. He's nice."

Stone showed his enthusiasm in the class by telling his peer and classmate
"No, I don't want to get in trouble," during role playing activities.

Being able to get his message through is what makes Shafer's job enjoyable.

One of his students uses poetry and art to talk about drugs.

"She's expressing her feelings," Shafer said. "I'm giving her the tools to
say 'no.'"

Working with younger children, Shafer feels he has the opportunity to have
a great impact on their lives.

He said in normal police work, officers arrest wrongdoers, but when working
with youth, he has the opportunity to work with them to explain why things
like drugs are wrong ahead of time

Getting to know the students is something he enjoys.

"Out on the street you know people who are in trouble," Shafer said. "With
the kids I know all of them, and they come up and give me hugs."

Shafer said his students have been known to approach him about class at
restaurants and games, which makes him feel he makes a difference in their
lives.

Kelsie Bradford is one of those students.

She said the most important lesson Shafer has given has been about peer
pressure. She enjoys the DARE class because Shafer doesn't just lecture.

"He teaches us," Bradford said. "We get to stand up in front of the class,
and it's funny. He's nice and funny." While some people may be humbled in
the spotlight, Shafer takes it as a sign that he is getting the message
through to the students.

Shafer said it is important that children have someone other than parents,
teaching them about these issues.

"Other than their teacher and other kids, who else is going to talk to them
about these things?" Shafer said.

Theresa Nelson, fifth grade teacher at Matthews, thinks Shafer is the ideal
choice.

She said he interacts well with the students, and the students aren't
afraid to talk to him about their problems.

"He uses a lot of personal experience to relate to them," Shafer said.
"They don't just see him as Officer Shafer. They see him as someone who has
been through some of the same things."

What makes the DARE program successful, Nelson said, isn't that it teaches
children the dangers of drugs. She said it's a success because it teaches
students about self esteem and things they can do instead of drugs.