DARE never showed any proof of...

DARE never showed any proof of worth

Its about time that they finally ended the program. It has been

shown that the program doesn’t work. It didn’t decrease drug usage,

but in fact, the research has shown that it may even increase drug

usage, because it makes the kids more interested in using drugs.

Next time, I hope that they do some real good long-term research

studies that show an actual decrease in drug usage before they launch

a large scale program like this. It has cost millions of dollars, and

what did we get for it? Not much, except more wasted tax dollars.

CAROLE WRIGHT

Fountain Valley

DARE needs to be saved in schools

I am absolutely appalled at the decision to eliminate the DARE

program. I am a fifth-grade teacher in the Huntington Beach City

School District, and a parent of a 2-year-old daughter who one day

will be a part of this wonderful school district. There are several

things that bother me about this decision.

I have yet to see any substantial evidence that contradicts what I

see first hand in my class that proves the Drug Abuse Resistance

Education program to be a worthless program. Teachers empower their

students with the belief that knowledge is power and that, without

knowledge, people cannot make wise decisions. This belief comes into

play in two areas on this topic.

Firstly, the DARE program provides students with information that

is both factual and true. In a day and age when just over 50% of our

kids grow up in broken homes, a large majority of our kids learn what

morals are from TV, movies and music, (how scary that is!), and when

drugs are being physically introduced to kids at younger and younger

ages, I am in awe at the fact that our city (one of the safest cities

in America), cannot do without two extra policemen on the streets.

I am also baffled at the fact that some elected officials not even

directly involved in the schools can make remarks and decisions that

that would so hurt our kids. That in itself is frightening.

Secondly, how can the elected officials within our city make

decisions that contradict what I and many others believe to be a

universal belief within society, and that being, knowledge is power.

From this article, it seems that resident Norm Westwell, police Chief

Kenneth Small, and the majority of council members have made

decisions based on opinions and not facts.

This is not the way our leaders are supposed to lead. I thought

that just the opposite was supposed to happen: People were supposed

to make decisions based on facts, not off of their own biases and

opinions. If people were to come into the schools and talk to the

kids, they would be surprised at the number of kids who have friends

and siblings who do drugs, the number of kids who witness the dealing

of drugs in the areas that they live, and the number of kids who have

witnessed the ill effects of drugs at a personal level.

Kids will always have free will to make decisions about the way

that they want to live their lives, but if we take away the tools and

programs that can help them make positive decisions in their lives,

we are doing a disservice to them. I strongly believe that where

there is a will, there is a way. In this case, money should not be a

problem to help our kids grow up and make wise decisions when it come

to drugs and dealing with problems. When looking at budget cuts, it

seems that the areas that should be cut are the ones that would least

effect the future of our community, and that being the education of

our kids.

SCOTT BRADBURY

Huntington Beach

Please do not take away DARE. As a DARE graduate I have

experienced the many subjects of DARE. You see, if you take away

DARE, you take away the only chance the children have to really learn

about drugs, alcohol, gangs and violence. So please, don’t take away

DARE.

DREW VAN HERK

11 years old

Huntington Beach

This e-mail is to show my support for the DARE program at our

schools. If this program saves only one child, the program is worth

it.

JOAN FESLER

Huntington Beach, CA

Yes, the DARE program is worth saving.

PAMELA FISHBEIN

Huntington Beach

Please consider this e-mail as an expression of how important I

believe the DARE program is for the children of this community.

My son was at Perry last year and was very informed by the DARE

program. When he and my now Perry fifth-grade daughter heard that she

may not benefit from the program, they were truly upset and sad about

the possibility.

SANDRA HOYLE

Huntington Beach

I fully support the DARE program here in Huntington Beach.

The local program is supported in some small way by a civic

organization to which I belong.

LORIN K. FERRELL

Huntington Beach

The DARE program is critical to our children’s future. What other

program can educate our children on the dangers of drug abuse? It

gives our children the tools they need to say no to drugs and

alcohol. We are risking a lot if we eliminate the DARE program. We

are risking the lives of our children. Our city is one of the safest

cities in the country. The DARE program plays a role in helping to

ensure that our city will remain safe. During these hard times, we

need to do everything possible to support the future of our city and

our world. Continuing to support education will ensure a positive

future.

VICTORIA BABINSKI

Huntington Beach

I am in support of the DARE program, if only to reinforce the

material children should be receiving at home. As a home-schooling

mother, I am personally responsible for the information my children

receive, and seek quality programs to supplement my instruction. A

program that not only educates children but seeks to prevent their

involvement in illegal drug activity can only be a good thing.

Surely, there is some way (corporate donation perhaps?) that the

funds for this program can be found.

PAM POWERS

Fountain Valley

Cook a great choice for commissioner

Councilwoman and former Mayor Debbie Cook would be the ideal

person to fill a vacancy on the California Coastal Commission. She

has been instrumental in helping to save our local beaches, parks and

wetlands from development and would certainly be an informed and

vigilant protector of the entire California coast.

LOIS VACKAR

Huntington Beach

Mayor Cook did a great job as the mayor in the year 2002.

She’ll be a wonderful representative for the county and all the

people in Southern California. She’s brilliant, stands for her

beliefs and means what she says.

How could we go wrong with her on the Coastal Commission? I hope

Sen. Burton is listening. He’s the one who appointed Councilwoman

Dettloff and will be appointing her replacement. Incidentally, in my

opinion, Shirley Dettloff did a remarkably efficient job representing

us.

EILEEN MURPHY

Huntington Beach

Over a period of several years, Debbie Cook has come to define

herself as an honorable and authentic person in her service to

Huntington Beach. What she says, she means -- no talking out of both

sides of her mouth. Her constituents may agree, or disagree with her

positions, but there is no guessing about what she spoke or what she

meant.

She has given unstintingly to her roles as mayor and

councilperson, generally with an overflowing agenda. All of

California may soon have the benefit of her rich background as an

environmentalist. Certainly, Sen. Burton could make no finer choice

than to select her to serve on the California Coastal Commission.

BEN AND MARGE ALLEN

Huntington Beach

As a 69-year coast hugger, I most definitely cast two votes for

retiring Mayor Debbie Cook for the coastal commission. She is the

most forward looking, knowledgeable, person we’ve ever elected to

this often shady City Council. Cook for coastal commissioner.

PHIL AND ELAINE WILDER

Huntington Beach

Cook should not be on commission

Debbie Cook should not, I repeat not, be on any commission except

maybe dog catcher’s.

JON WILLIAMS

Huntington beach