25. Does D.A.R.E Do More Harm Than Good?
Programs like D.A.R.E create inaccurate stereotypes that can hinder children’s ability to identify a dangerous scenario correctly. For instance, when one student was asked about an example of peer pressure, he defined it as other students trying to force him to do something he didn’t want to do.
The more delicate subtleties of peer pressure were lost on him – he didn’t understand the daily demands he may experience without even realizing it. By portraying peer pressure as a “big bad evil,” the program made him incapable of recognizing the danger and combating it.
