I remember DARE when I was in middle school – do you? I think I remember it so much because Ihadacrushonthedetective…sh. (I was in fifth grade, give me a break).
But now for the smaller set of Saratogians – fifth graders, to be exact – it’s not D.A.R.E for drug education and prevention program (or whatever it stood for, I can never quite make sense of it, but you know what I mean – drugs are bad!), but a new program called ‘Too Good For Drugs.’
Doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as easy, does it? But I’m sure it does the job just as well, if not better. Apparently these kids take tests before and after about their feeling towards drugs and substance abuse and all that jazz. (I’m glad I’m not in middle school right now – too many tests!)
But ‘Too Good For Drugs’ is a science based program and the Prevention Council educators teach lessons that focus on alcohol and tobacco related topics, peer pressure refusal strategies and goal setting. The classroom teachers also teach lessons that focus on communication skills and decision making.
The program began in two elementary schools in early February.