• FIFTH GRADE D.A.R.E. PROGRAM

D.A.R.E ( Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is at the forefront of substance abuse prevention education programs. It is designed to give young people the facts about drugs and alcohol and to "inoculate" them against negative peer pressure by teaching them self-management and resistance skills. This unique program, developed in 1983 as a cooperative effort by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District, uses trained police officers to teach in the classroom. Employing a formal, semester-long curriculum, D.A.R.E focuses on students in grade 5 who are not yet likely to have been led by their peers to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and are, therefore, more receptive to prevention education. This innovative law enforcement/ education partnership program has several noteworthy features:

D.A.R.E. targets elementary school children. First time junior high and high school drug education programs come too late to prevent drug abuse among some youth. Substantial numbers of young people have reported initiating use of alcohol, tobacco, and/or marijuana by junior high school.

D.A.R.E. offers a highly structured, intensive curriculum developed by health education specialists. A basic precept of the D.A.R.E. program is that elementary school children. lack sufficient social skills to resist peer pressure and say no to drugs. D.A.R.E. instructors do not use the scare tactics of traditional approaches that focus on the dangers of use. Instead, the instructors work with the children to raise their self-esteem, teach them how to make decisions on their own, and help them identify positive alternatives to substance use. The D.A.R.E. curriculum addresses learning objectives consistent with those of many state departments of education and conforms to health education standards.

D.A.R.E. uses uniformed law enforcement officers to conduct the class. Uniformed D.A.R.E. instructors not only serve as role models for children at an impressionable age but also have high credibility on the subject of drug use. Moreover, by relating to students in this role, officers develop a rapport that promotes positive attitudes toward police and greater respect for the law.

D.A.R.E. represents a long-term solution to a problem that has developed over many years. Many people believe that, over time, a change in public attitudes will reduce the demand for drugs. D.A.R.E. seeks to promote that change by reaching children at an early age. Equally important, D.A.R.E. instructors help children develop more mature decisions making capabilities that they can apply to many different situations as they grow up.

The D.A.R.E. After School program is an activity program currently offered to fifth grade students. D.A.R.E After School meets for an hour and a half every Tuesday afternoon, during the school year, in the Lincoln Street School gym. The program is staffed by police officers and volunteers.The DARE After School Program is currently seeking parents to volunteer to assist with the program. If interested, please contact Det. Munck for more information  The staff participate in games and activities with the fifth grade students. The goals of the program are:

1. Positive interaction between police officers and young people, to encourage good relationships and respect for police officers.

2. Encouraging students to participate in activities to build their self-esteem.

3. Keep students active during the afternoon hours which is the time most acts of delinquency and teen pregnancies happen.

There is no charge to the students for the After School program. The cost is paid for by the generous donations of the Exeter Area New Car Dealers Association.

The Police Department also presents the Pre-D.A.R.E. program to grades K, 1, and 2. The Pre-D.A.R.E. program involves visits to each class, varying in length,  depending on the grade level. The topics covered are age specific topics such as; Haloween Safety, using "911" in an emergency, and bicycle safety.

The D.A.R.E. programs in the Exeter School System are conducted by Detective Michael Munck of the Exeter Police Department. If you have any questions about the program feel free to contact him at 773-6147 or mmunck@exeternh.org . For more information on the national D.A.R.E. program visit the home website at http://www.dare-america.com   or the New Hampshire website at http://www.darenh.com .