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DARE is a cooperative effort between the
Chanute Police Department and USD 413 to help prevent drug abuse in young
people and to promote understanding concerning their present and future
roles as productive members of Chanute. The DARE officers’ goal is to
help them understand that they can be, by their actions, a positive or a
negative influence in society. However, the main emphasis of DARE is to
help students recognize and resist the many pressures that influence them
to experiment with drugs.
 The
DARE program consists of 16 lesson plans that deal with such issues as to
what a drug is, and ranging to conflict resolution. DARE offers a variety
of activity oriented techniques which are designed to encourage student
generated responses to problem-solving situations. At the end of the 16
lesson plans those children who have met the qualifications are honored
with a graduation ceremony.
The Chanute Police Department currently
has three full-time DARE officers and teaches eight 5th grade
classes. The DARE program reaches approximately 150 students per year.
Throughout the school year DARE sponsors several DARE skates and at least
two DARE dances, as one emphasis of the DARE program is to look for
positive alternative activities as a way of resisting the pressures of
drug use.
The DARE officers become certified to
teach by attending a two-week training seminar. The Kansas DARE
Association sponsors this seminar. The training is conducted in Topeka or
Wichita, Kansas.
One of the many rewards associated with
teaching the DARE classes is the positive response that is shown by many
of the students when they see a uniformed officer in their classroom. Many of them never have the opportunity to see a police officer in a
positive role and the friendships and positive influence that is generated
toward them and from them allows the students to understand that police
officers are there as a source of help whenever they feel the need.
It is the goal of the Chanute Police
Department to continue onward and forward with the DARE program and to
allow this program to continue serving the children of Chanute. |
