DARE to Think for Yourself

Juniorina had her 5th grade DARE graduation last week. DARE, for the initiated, is a drug prevention program with a 20 year history of ineffectiveness, a product of the "Just Say No" school.  Suffice it to say, I am not a DARE supporter, especially after learning that DARE is used to meet science curriculum objectives in our district. (Earlier in the year, Juniorina's teacher expressed frustration that she wasn't able to dig into science at what she thought was the right level, because so many of the kids need remediation in math skills).  I also don't want schools teaching my kids about sex ed (besides the biological, mechanical basics) or any other "life issues" that are in my purview, as a parent.   This expensive, worthless program is in place in a school which, last year, was forced, for budgetary reasons, to share their wonderful, full-time librarian with another school, and dismiss her part-time assistant.

When I showed up at school, the kids were still on the playground, and cranky because their DARE officer made them tuck their t-shirts in because he liked them better that way.  If he was going for neatness or uniformity, it was a wash, since many of the kids were really short, and many of the t-shirts knee-length.   The funniest thing about the t-shirts is that the DARE logo is layered on top of a swirly, tie-dye design, an image straight out of Sixties drug culture.  I customized Juniorina's for her (look close at the photo).

Before I went to the ceremony, I hunted up and printed off a handful of authoritative articles with information about all the ways in which DARE is ineffective.  Mothers Against Drunk Driving does not support DARE,  and the Surgeon General has placed DARE in its category of prevention programs that do not work. This past April, President Bush proclaimed an official "National DARE Day," even though DARE was excluded from his No Child Left Behind legislation because it didn't meet the criteria for effectiveness.  Even the representative to the police department who spoke at the school ceremony said he knew that many people were critical of DARE because it didn't work.  "If we save just one child," he rationalized, "it's worth it."  My hunch is that there could be a lot more saving of children, and fewer children left behind with a full-time, qualified librarian in the building, less teaching of test-taking skills, and a science curriculum devoted to the teaching of science.

Comments

[Candie]

DARE has caused problems between my daughter and me. She was very upset and screaming "MY MOM IS ON DRUGS" because I drank a glass of cabernet with dinner. She's in jr. high now and twice so far this year they have had to leave class while cops with drug-sniffing dogs inspect their classrooms, bookbags, and binders -- without parental notification! This is so out of hand!

[rochelle]

Oh, yeah. There was DARE swag out the wazoo--bumper sticker, keychain, coupons, etc. My favorite was the DARE officer trading card. Maybe I'll post some of the swag.

I should point out that I'm not anti-cop, and am pretty relieved that there is a school resource officer at the Jr. High. I've gotten to know some cops, and learned that cops are people, too! As with all people, some are great and some are evil shits. But definitely mark me down as anti-DARE.

PARTY on dudes!

[Lisle]

I like MARWYPTAGS (pronounced mar-whip-tags). I think PARTY would be over the collective heads of DARE personnel. In my experience, much is lost on them. Did they give away all the SWAG, besides t-shirts, at Juniorina's do? I mean the DARE pencils and DARE rulers and DARE bumperstickers. That's what really works to combat drug use. In Pennsylvania, we can even get DARE license plates...Because DARE doesn't get enough money, one supposes.

[Brian]

I can never read or hear anything about the DARE program without thinking of the old bumper sticker: "DARE to keep cops off donuts!"

Robin's suggested organization needs an acronymable name. Perhaps we could call it Parents Against Ridiculous Timewasting Yokels.

[Robin]

I say we start up a Mothers Against Ridiculous Wastes of our Young Peoples Time and Government (or quasi-Governmental) Spending.

My kids probably learned more about what to avoid (drugs, unethical behavior etc.) by watching Judge Judy, the other Judge guy or Gerry Springer even.