DARE: PROGRAM TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE TO AVOID DRUG, ALCOHOL USE

Perry County schools begin a new Drug Abuse Resistance Education program today, while DARE classes begin another semester in Scott County this week and in Cape Girardeau County next week.

Sgt. Stephen King, Perry County's new DARE officer, said he expects to be nervous as he begins the 17-week program with about 385 fifth-graders in 14 classes at seven public and parochial schools.

"I'm really excited to be starting DARE in Perry County," King said. "I volunteered to teach the program, and I"m looking forward to getting in the classroom and seeing if I can change some lives."

King said his lessons will target "gateway drugs" like nicotine, alcohol and marijuana since those are drugs that students have easiest access to. The lessons will discuss how students can make good decisions, avoid conflicts, ways to say no effectively, how to build self-esteem, and young people's rights and responsibilities.

Providing support is Diane Edwards, drug and alcohol education coordinator for Perry County. Active as a parent on the Drug and Alcohol Board, on which she served as coordinator, Edwards was hired full time by Perryville schools in October.

Edwards said the DARE program is pulling city and county schools together. She said the program provides an ideal opportunity for a concerted effort to prevent drug abuse.

Edwards and King are planning a ceremony for May 15 or 16 involving all county DARE graduates at a centralized place. She said that will help draw attention to the idea that everyone should be involved in the program.

Edwards said part of her assistance will involve organizing parents' groups to support DARE. She said she would like for students to be able to see several positive role models among adults at a variety of community events.

Bringing DARE to Perry County was a coordinated effort, said Mark Bowles, Perryville Junior High School principal and the school administrator primarily involved in program decisions.

Bowles said he had a lot of help securing a grant from the Missouri Department of Public Safety to pay for 75 percent of King's salary for the program. The other 25 percent is being paid by the Perryville Police Department under the direction of Police Chief Eugene Besand.

Bowles said community support has been good. Several civic groups and businesses have been willing to help with materials, which are estimated to cost about $3,000 per year, he said. The Missouri Highway Patrol has provided about 500 DARE workbooks for classes.

Bowles said he is "very excited" about DARE. He credited Edwards with getting things moving quickly.

By teaching fifth-graders, Besand said it will take several years to know the full impact of the program. Immediately, he expects a lot more positive response to police officers as a result of weekly DARE class.

Scott County DARE program

Deputy and court bailiff Bob Knight, Scott County DARE officer, said he enjoys working with students and is always warmly received at the schools.

A DARE instructor since January 1990, Knight said he teaches a structured curriculum that helps students learn about making good choices by taking positive risks and evaluating consequences. He said taking positive risks, like trying out for a sports team or band, do not carry the negative consequences like abusing drugs and alcohol.

Knight also teaches techniques to avoid illegal drugs such as saying no, walking away, ignoring the situation and associating with those who have positive values.

Knight teaches DARE in all Scott County schools except those in Sikeston. He has six public and five parochial schools, splitting them between the two semesters. This spring he will teach about 160 sixth-graders in seven classes at Chaffee, Scott Central, Oran and Scott City.

If Knight's duties as court bailiff conflict with his teaching schedule, he goes to the class since Sheriff Bill Ferrell considers DARE a priority, Knight said. He said he looks forward to the classes since he gets to work with students instead of people involved in the court system.

Cape Girardeau DARE program

Officer Jeannie Dailey said she believes she is making a difference in the classroom as DARE instructor in the Cape Girardeau Police Department. She said she meets the daily goal of building a rapport between law enforcement and students.

Dailey began teaching DARE in Sikeston during fall 1989, and started the Cape Girardeau program in January 1991. She teaches sixth grade at all five Cape Girardeau elementary schools, at Delta, Trinity Lutheran and St. Mary's, as well as fifth grade at Nell Holcomb.

Dailey will start her 14 weeks of classes with about 250 students Tuesday. She said she makes a lot of friends in the classroom and likes the targeted age group because they are lively and enthusiastic.

Dailey said DARE gives accurate information about drugs, provides alternatives to drug use, teaches decision-making skills and enhances students' interpersonal relationships.