Sixth graders DARE to refuse the bad things in life

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) graduation at South Barber

 

March 13, 2019



Teaching young students ways to refuse drugs, tobacco and alcohol and other high risk behaviors is the core of the D.A.R.E. Program. A group of sixth grade students at South Barber Elementary just graduated through D.A.R.E.

Kiowa Police Chief Nate Houston and Officer Travis Pedersen are in the process of becoming certified D.A.R.E. trainers. With the help of certified trainer Deputy Vance Williams of the Harper County (Kansas) Sheriff's Office, they held 10 one to two hour sessions with the sixth graders. The instructors also gave students anti-bullying skills. Chief Houston said they stressed to the children the importance of notifying a teacher, parent, law enforcement officer, etc., if they are aware of a problem or something doesn't feel right.

“It was a great experience for me – interacting with kids. They were listening and asked questions,” Chief Houston said. Students had the choice of writing an essay for this special class.

Deputy Williams selected the winners. They are: Reagan Grieve and Tyten Courson.

A highlight for the students and the Kiowa community was when D.A.R.E. spokesperson and entertaining personality Retro Bill visited for the day and shared the resist message. In its 35 year history, D.A.R.E. has constantly improved its science and evidence based education programs to provide students with the knowledge and other tools they need to resist drugs, alcohol, tobacco, bullying, membership in gangs, violent conduct and other high risk behaviors.

D.A.R.E. was founded in Los Angeles in 1983 as a joint initiative of then-LAPD chief Daryl Gates and the Los Angeles Unified School District as a demand-side drug control strategy of the American War on Drugs. Students who enter the program sign a pledge not to use drugs or join gangs and are informed by local police officers about the dangers of recreational drugs.

 

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