DARE Program
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program is a course provided by the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department to its area elementary schools. In its 10 weeks of instruction, 5th grade students are made aware of the damage that drugs, such as alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana, can have on their minds and bodies.
D.A.R.E. is considered a life skills program. Although the discussion of the harmful effects of drugs is prevalent, students also learn about: coping with peer pressure, understanding how self-esteem works, decision making and consequences, and managing stress. These are reason some people may use drugs and helping students to understand and control them is the key. Overall, students learn that their actions directly affect their future outcome. To oppose drug use, students take responsibility for themselves by saying ‘yes’ to positive alternatives.
The students do not receive a letter grade for completing the program, but D.A.R.E. does have some simple requirements. Attendance, participation, behavior, work completion, and an essay are the criteria factored for graduation. The essay consists of four paragraphs which addresses the following: 1) What did I like about D.A.R.E.? 2) What did I learn in D.A.R.E.? 3) Why do I want to be drug and violence free? 4) A commitment pledge to be drug and violence free.
To reward children on their efforts, the D.A.R.E. essay is also entered into a contest where each class has a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner with corresponding prizes at graduation. At the closing of each semester, the 1st place winners of the essay contest receive a Certificate of Achievement at a city council meeting from the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen.
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DARE Program