By Jane Schuchardt
Special to the Elgin Review
The double-dog-dare in the 1983 holiday film A Christmas Story, specifically challenging a child to stick his tongue to a frozen metal flagpole, may well be minor compared to what our children might face today.
That’s why the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office, Neligh, together with Elgin’s two schools, offers D.A.R.E. This program is designed to fill children’s toolboxes with the knowledge and skills to make good choices when faced with real-life dares.
D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, a school-based prevention program where on-duty, highly trained law enforcement officers deliver a curriculum in the classroom. Originating in 1983 in Los Angeles and used in a majority of U.S. school districts and in some other countries, saying no to alcohol and drugs was the main theme.
Now the program, known as ‘keepin’ it REAL, has expanded to focus on four resistance strategies – refuse, explain, avoid, and leave. Through interactive classroom exercises, emphasis is placed on decision-making, communications skills, and resisting peer pressure.
Greg Wemhoff, Elgin Public Schools principal, and Lisa Schumacher, Pope John Catholic School principal and administrator, welcomed the opportunity to include D.A.R.E. into the fall schedule. While curriculums, developed by the Los Angeles-based non-profit organization by the same name, are available for other ages, Elgin school leaders chose six graders. “The sooner we get to them, the better,” Schumacher said. Both also mentioned how repetition of prevention strategies, such as from parents, church groups, and repeated messaging at schools is important.
Wemhoff said that D.A.R.E. is not new to Elgin, likely last taught nearly a decade ago. Lately, no Antelope County officer had the two-week, residential, intensive training to offer the 10-week, once-a-week course lasting 45 minutes for each class. In August, Deputy Sheriff Matthew Veit joined the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office. He had the program training and experience as a school resource officer, and stepped up. Other schools in the Antelope County are not yet offering the program.
Both of Elgin’s principals expressed their appreciation to the sheriff’s office for offering this program to their students. While there is no overwhelming concern in Elgin, equipping youth with prevention strategies is worthwhile. It’s powerful to bring an outside voice into the classroom, both principals said.
Sitting in on the D.A.R.E class at both schools, it was obvious Deputy Veit was developing good rapport with the students, which is another goal of the program. “We want children to feel safe around uniformed officers and know they can reach out for help if needed,” he said. Students saw short videos, engaged in group problem-solving, enjoyed an occasional candy treat to celebrate success, used the D.A.R.E. box to ask sensitive questions, and got to know Daren the Lion, a stuffed animal symbolizing courage, strength, and power to make good decisions.
Following an afternoon teaching classes, Deputy Veit shared his drive to do teach D.A.R.E. “I like giving back to the community and investing in the next generation of citizens,” he said. “The work aligns with ‘community policing’ which means getting out, interacting with the population, and building positive relationships.”
Even in full uniform complete with firearm, heavily equipped duty belt, two-way radio, and shoulder microphone, in the classroom this officer is kind, compassionate, considerate, and soft-spoken, though definitely in control of the fully engaged classroom.
Deputy Veit, who has 14 years with the National Guard and experience as a security officer, said he could be stern. He didn’t find this approach to be necessary when working with the well-behaved classrooms of the Elgin schools always under the watchful eye of the regular classroom teacher.
While no direct costs for the program are incurred by the schools, the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office bears the expense of books, nametags, rubber wrist bands, and other items needed in the classroom. Another cost is the deputy sheriff’s time though the classroom work, which takes a full afternoon, doesn’t take him away from assuring safety for the county.
“Law enforcement needs come first,” Deputy Veit said. The radio worn on his left shoulder is on at all times while he’s in the classroom. “When there is an incident near Elgin or anywhere in the county that needs immediate attention, a domestic dispute, a car accident, I get the call and I respond,” he added.
At the beginning of the program, a participation letter is co-signed by the classroom teacher, the student, their parents, and the officer. It outlines requirements including completing the student workbook, writing a report, and demonstrating good behavior in the classroom. At a date in December yet to be announced, students who meet the requirements of the D.A.R.E. program will be recognized at a graduation ceremony. The student with the best essay will get to keep Daren the Lion.
While long-term results of the program are not easily documented, Deputy Veit said, “If just one child gets themselves out of a difficult situation, the program is successful.” The hope is that students will make safe and responsible decisions when the dares in life inevitably rear their ugly heads.
