DARE Continues in Schools

Community policing officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) recently resumed teaching the 10-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) classes to year-six students in government and private schools.

DARE is an international privately funded programme that provides students with the information and skills they need to lead a drug- and violence-free life. Through the course, students learn about how alcohol, tobacco, and drugs—both legal and illegal—react in the body. Students also receive information on dealing with peer pressure and stress, as well as helpful tips on how to resolve disagreements.

“DARE supports the philosophy of our social education curriculum by teaching children about the dangers of drugs,” says Chief Education Officer, Nyda Flatley. “It also has another benefit in that the kids develop a personal relationship with the police. We feel that this has long-term benefits because it puts forward a positive image of the police and of what they do. The social education programme is designed to prepare kids for life, and we think it’s critical that before they move on to a new school and the higher grades, that they are given this type of training.”

There are currently six trained RCIPS instructors for the DARE programme: in Grand Cayman, Police Constables Harold Forte, Everton Spence, Andy Alexander, Fran General, Kafara Augustine, and in Cayman Brac, Dave Ashurst.

When asked if students have been expressing anxiety after Hurricane Ivan, PC Alexander explained that they share a different perspective to most adults. “Most of the kids don’t really talk about Ivan in a negative way. When they do talk about it, it’s usually about the adventure of it all.

The thing the students are more concerned about is the transition to a new school; they want tips on how to deal with the change from being the ‘big kids’ in primary school to the ‘new kids’ in middle school. Hopefully, by the time they graduate from DARE, they feel more confident and ready to move on. If we help just one student tackle peer pressure or be able to say no to drugs, then we have been successful. “

The DARE courses were initiated by the RCIPS in 2000, with assistance from the National Drug Council, the Education Department and various local sponsors. The programme also received support from His Excellency the Governor and his wife, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and from parents and the community.