My DARE Report

By Christine Hannegan 5th Grade Teacher Over the last nine or ten years I have watched some remarkable men teach important skills in my classroom. I believe the lessons taught by Salem’s DARE Officers are crucial and fundamental to each and every student that participates. Learning to make healthy choices in a culture as complicated as ours could be the most realistic and lasting learning a student ever does. I feel that the most important lesson that I have learned in D.A.R.E. is about teaching and practicing refusal skills. It is one thing for a child to think or say that he or she would be confident enough to refuse drugs or alcohol and a whole different thing to practice those skills. Refusing or redirecting a friend is not that easy! Every year it seems that time is cut from the D.A.R.E. program. So with less time available there is less chance to cover important skills. As a teacher in our ever changing society I feel a responsibility to prepare our young students to live in a culture that is unstable and unforgiving. When young people get off track it is very difficult to get back on track and ultimately lead happy and productive lives. Without the important learning that takes place in the D.A.R.E. program I feel our students are not prepared for the challenging and stressful aspects of their futures. They have grown up watching television programs where adults that they idolize, party and drink to relax and socialize. They are bombarded by advertisements for alcohol and the actors are beautiful and look healthy and happy. So I believe our young students need to understand the harmful effects and consequences of drug and alcohol use. This is the task that our D.A.R.E. officers have to accomplish. I admire and appreciate all of their hard work in this undertaking. Hats off to the men in blue for helping our children to make healthy choices! About the Author: Christine Hannegan has been an educator for more than thirty years. She has been a teacher at Elementary, Middle, and High schools in Oregon. In 1991 Christine transferred to the Salem Keizer School District. She has been teaching 5th grade at McKinley Elementary School for more than ten years. Christine is truly a remarkable teacher. She demonstrates a sincere interest in the lives of her students. Each week when I come to her class her students are always prepared. She actively participates in the lessons from the D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model scenarios, the tobacco, alcohol and marijuana fact sheets, and during role playing scenarios as well. Christine reinforces each lesson during the week. She has used the D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model to help solve problems in the classroom. Christine is a role model for her students and other teachers as well. - Craig Seibel
Comment at the link below.