They have just as much right to police officer time as the business which has been robbed or the person who has been assaulted. In law enforcement we can choose to not do some things, but we have to do all the important things. Most of Washington's police chiefs and sheriffs think D.A.R.E. is one of those important things we have to do. Summary Expecting perfection is naive. What happens in the classroom does make a difference in people's lives.
Teachers can teach and young people can learn.
If we want to affect the behavior of our young people, we need to make a long term commitment to drug prevention and education. D.A.R.E. is one part of a long term commitment to learning. Prevention is cheaper and more effective than enforcement. Kids are a priority and deserving of police officer time. D.A.R.E. is a keeper.