Schools

Our education partners include 800 BC schools which teach D.A.R.E. because the program directly supports the goals and prescribed learning outcomes of the Health and Career Education Curriculum. Here’s what teachers, students and parents say about D.A.R.E.

What Teachers Say

•“The D.A.R.E. Program was very informative, offered positive interactions with the R.C.M.P. and opened up opportunities for students to share experiences and ask questions about a topic sometimes not discussed enough at home. The program helps students think ahead about the possible consequences of drugs and alcohol. It provides excellent strategies for avoiding drugs and alcohol.”
•“Kids learn the facts, not just the opinions of their peers. Students also get the opportunity to see RCMP members as approachable people, rather than only as enforcement officers. I think that the D.A.R.E. Program is invaluable in a community that is struggling with drug issues.”
•“Students are provided with the life skills they need to avoid involvement with drugs and alcohol. They are also provided with many opportunities to talk openly and freely with a police officer. This in turn provides students with the opportunity to form a positive bond with a police officer and thus see the police as a helping force.”
•“An absolutely fantastic program! The D.A.R.E. Program taught my students about awareness and refusal skills. Several students said they now understand how to say no and be prepared. Also, the knowledge base of drugs was presented in a professional manner. The children were honest with what they knew and were amazed by the new facts they learned.”
•“My officer spent time at recess to get to know the children in the school. The relationship established with a law enforcement officer is priceless. She also drops in periodically to say ‘hi’ and reinforces the bond with all the children in the school. I believe that this positive relationship with law enforcement will also be a positive influence when the students are faced with tough decisions in the future.”
•“The D.A.R.E. Program is developing into something better every year. We have the involvement of entire families and this is a real positive. Making a project like a quilt wall hanging with D.A.R.E. grads is useful: they see it as they grow up and finally graduate from Grade 12. Making final graduation a big party with dinner, pledges, cake and family games has really made the D.A.R.E. objectives a focus in our community.”

What Parents Say

•“This was our fourth child to graduate from the D.A.R.E. Program. I think it is a fantastic program with long lasting positive effects on the students. Thank you for providing it.”
•“I believe the D.A.R.E. Program is very important. It opens doors for conversations at home and, more importantly, stresses when to have them—before it’s too late. Thank you.”
•“This is our second child to complete the D.A.R.E. Program, and we still have another who will attend. Our first, now almost 16 years old, still benefits from what was taught. This program is a necessity for our children.”
•“I believe the D.A.R.E. Program is very good for kids. Our child spoke often of what he learned in class, giving us many opportunities to speak as a family about the subject. In the past, we have often thought about speaking with him but believed he was too young to understand. Instead we learned he was very aware of drug use in the community and taught us things we didn’t know.”
•“My child learned a ton of valuable information and is much more knowledgeable about drugs, their effects and peer pressure. This program elicited a lot of important conversations within our household. The grad ceremony was very touching!”
•”You have given our children a voice of independence and reason amidst their peers so they can use their knowledge to back their choices not to partake in unsafe practices or give in to peer pressure. My child looked forward to each class with the D.A.R.E. Officer—as did I. It is now with ease that we bring up topics relating to drugs and alcohol abuse, or concerns over friends or family that may be involved with them. Thank you for making a great program available to my child.”
•“The D.A.R.E. Program opened the door for parents to communicate and discuss drugs with their children. This is an important part of a strong parent/child relationship. Parents have a strong influence on their children, whether they realize it or not. Thank you for helping make the process positive.”

What Students Say

•“I’m very thankful to our D.A.R.E. Officer for teaching us about this great program. Now I know more about drug abuse, alcohol and other dangerous things. It’ll help me all my life to make good decisions.”
•“It teaches me and the other kids what is bad and what is good for our lives. Thank you for having this idea; I have learnt a lot.”
•“The D.A.R.E. Officers showed me respect. They taught me new ways of making decisions about drugs and alcohol. They answered our questions respectfully and threw us a party at the end.”
•“What I liked best about the D.A.R.E. Program was that it was interactive: we got to learn many things from the police officers that came to our class. They explained many things about drug and alcohol abuse. It has taught me what not to do when I grow up.”
•“I’m very thankful to our D.A.R.E. Officer for teaching us about this great program. Now I know more about drug abuse, alcohol and other dangerous things. It’ll help me all my life to make good decisions.”
•“It teaches me and the other kids what is bad and what is good for our lives. Thank you for having this idea; I have learnt a lot.”
•“The D.A.R.E. Officers showed me respect. They taught me new ways of making decisions about drugs and alcohol. They answered our questions respectfully and threw us a party at the end.”
•“What I liked best about the D.A.R.E. Program was that it was interactive: we got to learn many things from the police officers that came to our class. They explained many things about drug and alcohol abuse. It has taught me what not to do when I grow up.”

RCMP website