My D.A.R.E Essay
By Jonathan Fairfield
The grade 4/5 class at Rimbey Christian School has been visited by Constable Shadforth. What is it about? It’s about D.A.R.E. Drug Abuse Resistance Education. We have been learning about it for the past ten weeks. We have been taught lots of information and how to use it in our lives.
I learned a lot of important information in D.A.R.E. In one week I learned about bullying. Bullying is when someone is being called names or shoved around. The safest way to report bullying is the five Ws. Who? Who is being bullied? What? What is happening? When? When was it? Where? Where was the bullying? Why? Why are they being bullied? I also learned about communication. There are two types of communication; nonverbal communication and verbal communication. Nonverbal communication is body language. Body language is the way your body looks when you listen or talk. Some examples are eye contact, squaring up, keeping space, and not sulking. Verbal communication is not sputtering, not demanding, answering questions and more.
Also, in another week I learned about the effects of tobacco. I learned that there are more than 200 dangerous chemicals in a cigarette including marijuana and nicotine. Tobacco can cause hard breathing and upper respiratory disease and more people die from second hand smoke than direct smoking.
I also learned about ways to respond. These are the best ways to respond: avoid the situation, strength in numbers, walking away, say no and give an excuse and change the subject.
Another week I learned about stress. These are some signs of stress: frustration, sweaty palms, and red face. I also learned through D.A.R.E. about pressure. Pressure is when people push you to do something like drugs, smoking, drinking and so on. I learned a lot in D.A.R.E.
One way I used the D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model (DDMM) was when I was supposed to clean my room. I defined my problem as when to clean my room. I assessed these choices: do it then, do it later, do half now and half later. I responded by doing it then. I made a good choice because then it was over and done with. That was one of the multiple times I used the D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model.
I am going to use the information I learned in D.A.R.E. for the future. One thing I can do is tell others about the D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model. I also can use information I learned to refuse cigarettes, drugs, etc. Also, I can use the DDMM to make wise and safe decisions. I can also help people who are stressed and tell them signs of stress. I am going to use the facts I learned in D.A.R.E. throughout my life.
I think D.A.R.E. was fun except for the writing parts I especially enjoyed the word search. I think the most important lesson is about pressure. Thank you for coming Constable Shadforth!