THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 29, 1995 TAG: 9503280122
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
IF YOU DON'T THINK drug-resistance education in the schools is working, just ask Charlie Phelps, Isle of Wight County's sheriff all of the time, DARE teacher some of the time.
``I've had more children come up to me and tell me how much they've learned - more teenagers come up and tell me because of what they learned in DARE, they don't do drugs.
``And I've received some of the greatest hugs in some of the most unusual places, like Chesapeake Square Mall. Then, I'm not the sheriff of Isle of Wight - I'm the DARE teacher.''
Phelps was at Hardy Elementary School last week to see yet another crop of fifth graders graduate from the educational program that teaches students to recognize and resist the pressure that influences them to experiment with drugs.
DARE - Drug Abuse Resistance Education - began in Virginia with a pilot program during the 1986-87 school year. Since then, nearly 450,000 elementary school students have been through the 17-lesson course that teaches self-esteem as well as drug awareness and resistance.
DARE, funded partially in recent years by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, has expanded to other grades since its inception. It is taught in every locality by local police officers. In 1989, officers in some areas started working with seventh grade students in the middle schools.
In 1990, DARE moved into the high schools, re-emphasizing in the 10th grade what students had learned in the lower grades. A DARE parent program started in 1992.
And Phelps is dedicated to bringing all of the expanded DARE programs to Isle of Wight, he told parents gathered at Hardy Elementary to watch more than 125 fifth graders graduate.
``DARE is only partially funded through the state,'' Phelps said. ``We cannot take county funds and buy things like T-shirts, pencils, rulers. All of that comes from private donations.''
But every cent invested in the program is worth it, Phelps said. And if funds from the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act are cut, as some have predicted, DARE will continue in Isle of Wight, he said.
``If we have to hold bake sales to do it, we'll do it. DARE will continue in Isle of Wight.''
Phelps said he was the first sheriff in Virginia to attend the DARE academy and actually teach in the schools, and he is now one of just a handful of teaching sheriffs. He plans to attend classes this summer to teach DARE in the middle schools. From there, he told the Hardy parents, he plans to go on with the high school and parent programs.
Phelps was assisted in his DARE curriculum this year by Lt. Gary Falls, a deputy who attended DARE training to take over when his boss is too busy with his regular job.
And Falls also is moved by the relationship he has established with the children.
``When Sheriff Phelps first asked me to do this, he said, `You'll love it.' I've gotten to love these kids.''
And the youngsters at Hardy learned their lessons well.
``If someone gets after you to do drugs, you can get help from a parent, a teacher or the police,'' fifth grader Stacy Jones told the parents at the graduation.
``I have really enjoyed DARE,'' said Rebecca Spital. ``On a scale of 1 to 10, DARE is a 10!''
``If you have a goal you want to reach in life,'' Christy Dickerson said, ``be drug-free.''
DARE graduation has become a rite of spring in Isle of Wight. Graduation was held at Windsor Elementary in February. And it will be at Carrollton Elementary this Friday and at Carrsville and Isle of Wight Academy later this spring. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Stacey Jones, left, and Rebecca Spital recite the Pledge of
Allegiance during the DARE graduation.
by CNB