DARE offers a chance for fifth graders to learn dangers of drugs and tobacco

By Ella Miller, Student Life Editor

5TH GRADE CLASSROOMS — Besides all of the activities the fifth graders take part in, they also have a program that teaches them about some dangers in life—drugs, tobacco and smoking. DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

Every Monday, Pelham Police Officer Brian Hendrie comes in to each class to teach them about DARE. Each week, the fifth graders learn about a new topic, continue on an old one, or do something different then normal. The class includes videos on the topic they are talking about that day. Recently, some of the discussions have been about resisting offers for harmful products and laws about the products.

Something that Officer Hendrie is offering in DARE is the DARE box. Kids can drop letters in. Officer Hendrie will read them to the class and answer them. He said the box is for people who are uncomfortable asking certain questions.

Lots of kids are excited about the program.

Arden Gerhardt (5H) said, “I am excited about DARE because my teacher said it’s really fun.”

Sean Diaz-McCarthy (5M) said, “I am excited about hands-on activities.”

Mrs. Wilson, the principal, is also one of the people who supports DARE. “I think it is a great program because it gives you the opportunity to learn about drugs and alcohol and the harmful effects.”

This story originally appeared on the Colonial Times website.