Officer uses DARE as tool for prevention

Lisle police officer Jodie Wise tends to make a strong impression when she visits classrooms.

Dressed in her navy blue uniform, Wise teaches five anti-drug DARE classes at Schiesher Elementary School and two at St. Joan of Arc Elementary School, reaching a combined 205 fifth-graders.

DARE programs have come under fire, and even been abandoned in some towns as being ineffective, but Wise strongly disagrees.

"DARE works," she said. "We have a motto that 'D' is for design, which means to state the problem; 'A' is for accessing the choices; 'R' is to respond and pick a choice; and 'E' is to evaluate -- did you make a good choice and, if not, what would you do differently if you had to do it over again."

The program's long-term goal is prevention.

"We teach students to think through their decisions instead of just going along with others," Wise said. "It's important to me to help kids on the front end and be part of the prevention process."

In a previous assignment, Wise worked with young people who experienced problems with drugs and alcohol. She welcomed the chance DARE gives her to try to stop problems before they begin.

DARE, she says, helps kids increase their self-esteem, improve their decision-making and identify positive alternatives.

Through role-playing, the curriculum reinforces skills to resist peer pressure and intimidation.

"DARE tells students to make good choices so if they are under pressure they will know what to say and do," said Anthony Nichols, 10.

"Drugs never make you a better person," said 11-year-old Katherine Sweeney. "No one wants to be around you."

The new emphasis is on giving kids the skills and information they need to make good life choices. DARE has a structured curriculum that focuses on drug, alcohol and tobacco misuse, as well as personal safety, resisting peer pressure, resolving disagreements, building self-esteem, assertiveness, support systems, gangs, managing stress, reducing violence, bullying and good decision making.

As a cooperative venture between schools and law enforcement, the officer tries to open positive lines of communication.

"I want students to feel comfortable with talking to a police officer and to recognize me in school," Wise said.

She said similar programs cover much of the same material, but having a police officer talk about the issues can have a lasting impact.

"DARE is a good thing because we need to know more about how our body works and if we are doing anything wrong," said Melanie Beidelman, 10. "We need to know if drugs, alcohol and tobacco are really bad for us."

On a recent visit to Mel Jamison's fifth-grade classroom at Schiesher, the 23 pairs of eyes were all on Wise as she presented the materials in an interactive way.

On the docket was "Resolving Disagreements and Reducing Violence" in Schiesher's 16-week program. Students recorded their answers in workbooks.

The group talked about types of violence that students listed, such as yelling, making threats, blaming someone wrongly, using bad language and saying hurtful words. Wise said violence also includes flashing gang signs and making contact in hurtful ways.

The class went on to discuss violence against non-living things, the feelings violence generates, appropriate ways to handle those feelings and how violence may escalate when alcohol or drugs are part of the equation.

Part of Wise's approach includes having a DARE box in each classroom available for student questions.

"Students are able to leave a question anonymously for me or whenever they think of a question," she said. She then reads and acts upon each note.

"Once there was a student who said a sibling was hanging with friends that do drugs and this child wanted to know how to get the sibling to leave the friends."

Wise knows small people can have big problems and need the tools to resolve issues. The presence of an effective education program is vital to their well-being.

"If I were a DARE officer, I would make sure (the students) knew not to do drugs or violence because you can solve problems without violence," said 11-year-old Christian Klimczak.

Ten-year-old Shamiah Oliver summarized the discussion saying, "Violence never solves anything."

It is an important message to learn from one classroom session.

For more information, check out www.dare.com.