DARE provides valuable anti-drug message

Rector Elementary DARE award winners are, from left: Alexandria Green, top DARE student in Susie McCarroll's classroom; Landen Crancer, essay winner in Susie McCarroll's classroom; Hunter Kemper, essay winner in Heather Frost's classroom, and Isaac Lampkin, top DARE student in Heather Frost's classroom. (Photo provided) [Click to enlarge]

After weeks of fierce competition and intense study on the influence and danger of drugs, Rector Elementary School sixth graders graduated Thursday, April 30, from the school's DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, pledging to keep their lives free from the horrors of drug use.

The students cleverly decorated individual boxes, in which they placed anonymous questions about drugs, as well as bulletin boards, banners and door decorations, all judged by teachers.

Alexandria Green and Isaac Lampkin were chosen from each of the two sixth grade classrooms as the top DARE students for 2009. Winners in a DARE essay contest were Landen Crancer and Hunter Kemper.

The class was conducted over 10 weeks by Clay County Deputy Sheriff Dwight Brown of Corning, who was wildly popular with the students. Clay County Sheriff Gerald McClung noted the DARE program almost didn't happen this year in Rector. But after Deputy Brown was hired by the Corning School District as a campus resource officer, the Corning district agreed to allow Brown to continue his work as the DARE officer here.

Sixth grade teachers Heather Frost and Susie McCarroll say the DARE program was very well received by the students and teachers. All enjoyed the work and games that Deputy Brown brought to their classroom, and, most of all, the students got the message that Deputy Brown worked so hard to convey -- drugs are bad and will mess up your life and your family.

"As part of the law enforcement in Clay County, Deputy Brown is to be commended for his hard work in keeping this program alive in this county," said a sixth grade parent. "It is a step in the right direction at the right time in these children's lives."

Here are the winning essays:

Landen Crancer

Did you know that DARE is a great thing? It helps kids become aware of the harmful drugs out there. DARE means so much to me. If we didn't have DARE, we'd all be more likely to do drugs. On average more than 400,000 Americans die from tobacco a year. DARE informed me of that. DARE means Drug Abuse Resistance Education. The program helps kids like me say NO!!!!!!!!!

Did you know marijuana smoke contains more than 50% of cancer causing materials? Who wants cancer, not ME! Alcohol can make you lose your self control. Believe me, we need our self control.

Deputy Brown (our DARE instructor) educated me well. There are so many ways that I can remain drug free. One thing is the guilt that would come with doing drugs. The most important thing that would keep me away from drugs is my reputation being ruined. If you get messed up on drugs, it will come back on you and your family. For example, if you did drugs and you have a family, you might not be there to see them graduate. Would you really want to put your family through that?

In life I have a lot of role models. Here are some: my mom, dad, brother, sisters, babysitter, aunt, uncles and my church family. These are all people who can keep me away from drugs. They would help me by giving me the guidance to pass up drugs. I would take their guidance anytime.

I promise to stay drug free by thinking before I speak. For example, if someone asked me if I wanted to smoke, I would think, but really wouldn't have to think about it.

Someone I know used to smoke and that person died of lung cancer. I don't want someone to look up to me and then I get lung cancer and die. I wouldn't want that person to have to go through what I went through.

DARE is so awesome. I love it. If it weren't for Deputy Brown, we wouldn't have had DARE. He didn't have to do it, but he volunteered his time to spend it with us. So I guess what I would like to say is, THANK YOU DEPUTY BROWN!!!!!!

Hunter Kemper

This year we had DARE. Our director was Deputy Brown. He taught us how to just say no to drugs. He was funny and nice and taught us a lot of important information in DARE this year.

He taught us how alcohol can get in your bloodstream and give you many diseases and maybe even kill you. Alcohol is one of the main causes of car crashes, in addition to the harmful effects it can have on your body.

Another thing he taught us was about tobacco. Tobacco can make it easier to get cold. Would you want to smoke if you got a cold all the time? More than 400,000 Americans die a year because of tobacco. It makes you wrinkle, too. Do you want to become a prune?

Deputy Brown also taught us to make wise decisions. He taught us not to just jump into things, but to think about them first. For instance, if you are in a situation where someone is pressuring you to do drugs, just make a decision that you feel is right and go for it. In the end you will figure out which was better. If you said yes, you may be on the road to ruin. If you said no, you will live a better life along the way.

DARE, to me, means how to stay drug free. So take the pledge to stay drug free by just saying no. I hope you and everyone else will help me and themselves to stay drug free. Drugs could affect you by killing brain cells and harming other parts of your body.

Deputy Brown, I would like to thank you for all your help this year. You directed us toward a better future without drugs. Thank you!