Taking the DARE: Program returns to Portageville classroom

Portageville Elementary School fifth graders talk with Sgt. Chris Cooley following their DARE graduation ceremony. Cooley is the Portageville School District school resource officer and the DARE instructor.

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. —When Portageville voters approved a one-fourth of 1 percent sales tax to provide police officers for their schools last August, it brought more than additional security. It brought the return of the DARE program.

Sgt. Chris Cooley, Portageville school resource officer, provided 10 weeks of classes for more than 100 fifth and sixth graders. The students, their teachers and parents recently celebrated the program’s conclusion with a special graduation ceremony.

Cooley, who began teaching the DARE curriculum in 2002, is the first to point out the DARE program of today is very different from the past.

An excited Brooklyn Linville accepts her prizes for writing the top essay among the Portageville fifth and sixth grade DARE program from School Resource Officer Chris Cooley, who served as DARE instructor. More than 100 students at Portageville recently completed the 10-weeks of DARE instruction.

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

“DARE has come a long way over the years,” explained Cooley, who completed a recertification program to instruct the Portageville students. “They are more focused now on making the right decisions, understanding risks and consequences, dealing with peer pressure, handling risky situations and finding ways to be in charge. It is built more along the lines of how to be a good citizen and to make the right decisions.”

While there is still information about the dangers of drugs, smoking and alcohol, Cooley said the curriculum now takes on subjects such as bullying. The officer added they discuss the need to control impulses and work to improve communication skills.

From the first lesson on responsibility, Cooley said classes build on the skills young people need as they grow. It also seeks to provide the youngsters with ways to respond to the challenges they might face.

Broolyn Linville, a student at Portageville Elementary School, reads her essay which was selected as the best of more than 100 essays written by the students as they completed their DARE program instruction. Today's DARE program not only focuses on drug awareness but also teaches students about making good decisions and good citizenship.

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

“We want to enable youth to make more responsible decisions, to make healthy choices, not only about drugs but in all parts of their lives,” he said. “When life throws them a curve ball, using their decision-making model it will help them through that.”

Cooley praised the Portageville School District for allowing him to bring back the DARE program after an estimated 30-year absence from the district. He noted not only did school officials allow students the time out of their regular classes but also funded the workbooks used in the program.

Portageville Police Chief Ronnie Adams also supported the effort to bring back the DARE Program. His department funded Cooley’s recertification class and he was on hand to watch as the students officially graduated from the DARE program.

The information the students received through DARE is often shared with others, he said. Adams explained when those attending the classes go home, they bring the information they learned back to their parents and siblings.

“I think it is a good class,” Adams said

Cooley agreed, noting many of the parents shared their excitement for the program. Many also attended the graduation.

As part of their graduation ceremony, 34th Judicial District Associate Judge Joshua Underwood, who is a Portageville native, spoke about the importance of making good decisions throughout life. He urged the students to research their options and if necessary, ask someone for help. Finally, Underwood said, they must consider how their decision would impact others.

To complete their DARE program, all participants were required to write an essay. The top essay from each class was recognized with awards presented to Phoebe Rone, Madison Hamm, Justin Forrester, Kayleigh Darnall, Colton Barney and Danny Taylor with Brooklyn Linville declared the overall essay winner.

Fifth grader Gavin Crumley said while he was already aware of the dangers of drugs, he was surprised to learn how many people abuse them.

“And if you use tobacco, you can die from it and stuff like that,” Gavin added. “I think I needed to learn about drugs and stuff.”

Danny Taylor, a sixth grader, said he hopes the DARE program continues.

“I tried to listen as good as I could in DARE class. I feel like it made me a better person,” he said.

Both Taylor and sixth grader Mia Scherer thought the information the DARE class introduced on bullying had an impact. Scherer said she even saw a change in the way the students treated one another.

“DARE is an amazing program,” Scherer continued. “If you have the opportunity to do it, you should do it.”

Portageville students will continue to have the opportunity. Cooley said he plans to add to the Middle School DARE curriculum next year.