Pubdate: Mon, 05 Dec 2005
Source: Quad-City Times (IA)
Copyright: 2005 Quad-City Times
Contact:  http://www.qctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/857
Author: Ann McGlynn
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DARE PROGRAM'S FUTURE STILL UNCERTAIN

Fifth-graders in 14 Davenport schools are learning about drug abuse
and violence prevention this year, as they have for many years, from a
police officer with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, or
DARE.

The program, which faced the city budget ax two years ago, now faces
an uncertain future as the small group of volunteers who picked up the
pieces wonder where the money will come from next year.

So far, they've survived on leftover money, a grant from the Scott
County Regional Authority and stipends from schools that chose to keep
the program in their buildings.

"When DARE lost its funding from the city, there was an awful lot of
bad press nationwide about DARE, about whether it was a really good
thing or not," said John Arnold, president of the DARE board and owner
of Arnold's Body Shop. "I can't speak for any other DARE
organizations, but the ones in the Quad-Cities are nothing but trying
to provide the best drug education to students."

Several communities have dropped or scaled back their DARE programs as
research disputed the program's effectiveness, municipalities
struggled with budgets, and the federal education agenda turned its
attention to high achievement in math, reading and science.
Bettendorf, for example, has traded DARE for a program designed by its
own staff.

Since the Davenport program lost the $200,000-a-year commitment from
the city, along with its large board, organized fundraisers and paid
coordinator, DARE now charges a fee to the schools that choose to have
it. This year, it's $100 per fifth-grade section. Last year, it was
$300. In many cases, the Parent Teacher Associations pick up the tab,
said Betty Nelson, secretary.

It takes about $12,000 a year to make the program run, said Dale
Dohse, the group's treasurer. The three police officers who devote
their time to teaching are paid $30 an hour to do so, Arnold said. A
fourth has gone through the training.

One of the officers is Chuck Lee.

Lee, whom Arnold called a "walking encyclopedia" about youngsters,
took the head spot at the front of Bill Gallin's fifth-grade class at
Monroe Elementary recently. He was there to teach the fifth of 10
weeks of lessons. His 45-minute segment focused on
disagreement.

At one point, he asked the entire class to the front with him. He had
them stand on one side of the room or the other, depending on which
choice they would make: pizza vs. cheeseburger, Mallards game vs. a
movie, talkers vs. listeners, basketball vs. square dancing.

The kids laughed.

"Not everyone shares the same opinion we have," he told them. "But
there is no need to let it become a violent situation."

Gallin said the school chose to use some of its own precious budget
and class time to continue DARE.

"We just on a gut level think it's a good idea for these guys to hear
it," Gallin said. "I believe it has to help the kids."

Rebecca Ann Shepherd, one of the students in Gallin's class, said she
enjoys the visits from Officer Lee, and is learning something, too.

"He teaches us about how drugs can affect your body," she said. "He
wants us to be safe."

Arnold acknowledges the controversy surrounding DARE's effectiveness.
But he believes it is important for students to continue to have DARE
in Davenport.

Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can send a check in care of DARE
to his body shop, 3514 Vine St. Court, Davenport, IA 52806.

"I've got some personal reasons and deep feelings about drug
education," he said. "I don't want to see it die."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake