Pubdate: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 Source: Sun St. Kitts and Nevis (Antigua) Copyright: 2007 SUN Printing & Publishing LTD Contact: http://sunstkitts.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4295 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) DARE BENEFICIAL TO TEACHERS While the Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) Programme is said to be geared towards educating children about drug abuse, violence and other criminal behaviour, the local DARE Coordinator Sgt. Lyndon David is underscoring its benefits to teachers. David explained that the benefits of DARE programme to children were quite evident but he continued that the programme was just as beneficial to teachers as it was to students. "The DARE programme has a positive impact on the students and also there are a lot of teachers who like the programme and they also are involved in the programme. "They would come and ensure that the classes are conducted the way they should and they also participate in the lessons. "Some teachers are enquiring about certain aspects of the programme in terms of a particular topic. "For instance, the effects of alcohol on the body, if the teachers do not know about a particular heading under that topic, they would ask certain questions for their own knowledge and whenever the students are given homework, there are teachers who are there to assist the students." The local DARE coordinator said he has taken note of the enthusiasm of some teachers who seem to be thirsty for DARE related information. "Apart from those students who are anxiously waiting for the DARE programme to come, there are also teachers who are anxious for the programme because they are getting information that they might not have had before." David explained that teachers, having gained knowledge about drug abuse, violence and crime, would be able to better assist their students in dealing with issues as they would be equipped with the appropriate knowledge. "They would be in a position where they would be able to identify some of the signs of deviant behaviour in terms of use of drugs and so forth. "Once they (the teachers) are in the classroom and they hear the DARE officer indicate some of the signs or reasons why a person might use drugs, they would be able to look for these signs, as well, and assist the school. "So at the end of the day, both students and teachers benefit from the programme." David said the DARE programme would commence in both the primary and secondary schools later this year. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek