Lower Burrell's D.A.R.E. Program was founded in September of 1994, in cooperation with the Burrell School District.
PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The major goal of D.A.R.E. is to prevent substance abuse among school children. By targeting young children, D.A.R.E. seeks to prevent adolescent substance abuse, thus reducing the demand for drugs. D.A.R.E. lessons focus on the following points:
Providing the skills for recognizing and resisting social pressures to experiment with tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.
Helping enhance self-esteem.
Teaching positive alternatives to substance use.
Developing skills in risk assessment and decision making.
Building interpersonal and communications skills.
D.A.R.E. achieves these objectives by training carefully selected veteran law enforcement officers to teach a structured, sequential curriculum in the schools.
An important by-product of D.A.R.E. is the impact made by uniformed law enforcement officers working in classrooms. These officers provide a positive role model for children in a non-threatening environment.
The D.A.R.E. curriculum is organized into 17 classroom sessions conducted by a Lower Burrell Police Officer at Bon Air School, Stewart School and St. Margaret Mary's School, coupled with suggested activities taught by the regular classroom teacher. A wide range of teaching activities are used: question-and-answer, group discussion, and role-play and workbook exercises, all designed to encourage student participation and response.
The City has received many favorable comments regarding the D.A.R.E. Program. Each class concludes with a graduation ceremony. At this ceremony, the D.A.R.E. Instruction Officer concludes the program with the following poem.
DEATH OF AN INNOCENT
I went to a party, Mom
I remembered what
you said
You told me not to drink, Mom
So I drank a soda
instead.
I felt really proud inside, Mom
The way
you said I would
I didn't drink and drive, Mom
Even though the others said
I should.
I know I did the right thing, Mom
I know
you're always right
Now the party is finally ending, Mom
As everyone
drives out of sight.
As I get into my car, Mom
I know I'll get
home in one piece
Because the way you raised me, Mom
So responsible and
sweet.
I started to drive away, Mom
As I pulled
onto the road
The other car didn't see me, Mom
It hit me like a
load.
As I lay here on the pavement, Mom
I hear
the policeman say
The other guy was drunk, Mom
And now I'm the one who has
to pay.
I'm lying here dying, Mom
I wish you'd
get here soon
How come it happened to me, Mom
My life burst like a
balloon.
There is blood all around me, Mom
Most of
it is mine
I hear the paramedics say, Mom
I will die in a short
time.
I just wanted to tell you, Mom
I swear I
did not drink
It was the others, Mom
The others did not think.
He didn't know where he
was going,
Mom
He was probably at the same
party as I
The difference is, Mom
He
drank, and I will die.
Why do people drink, Mom
It can ruin
their whole life
I'm feeling sharp pains, Mom
Pains like a
knife.
The guy who hit me is walking, Mom
I do
not think that is fair
I'm lying here dying, Mom
While all he can do is
stare.
Tell my brother not to cry, Mom
Tell
Daddy to be brave
And when I go to heaven, Mom
Write Daddy's girl on my
grave.
Someone should have told him, Mom
Not to
drink and drive
If only they would have
taken the time, Mom
I still
would be alive.
My breath is getting short, Mom
Before I
say good-bye
I didn't ever drink, Mom
So why do I have to die.
This is the end, Mom
I wish I could look
in your eyes
To say these final words, Mom
I love you and
good-bye.
