Good riddance to ineffective DARE

I was troubled by Thursday’s letter from Junior League of Las Vegas President Britta Carlson, in which she laments the discontinuation of the DARE program, recently cut from Metro’s strapped budget. The saying “all that glitters is not gold” comes to mind as the DARE program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), proved ineffective by scientifically based studies, has nonetheless continued to receive funding on the basis of its popularity, politics and lobbying.

Empirical research conducted by the U.S. surgeon general and others has consistently demonstrated that the DARE program is not effective at reducing alcohol and drug use by youths. In fact, the National Academy of Sciences declared DARE an “ineffective program,” and the U.S. Department of Education prohibited schools from spending federal money on DARE in years past.

Ms. Carlson’s letter is, unfortunately, an example of misplaced good intentions. Money was wasted for years by Las Vegas police on an approach that did not result in better outcomes, as Nevada youth have significantly higher rates of illicit drug use than the national average.

I say good riddance to the ineffective DARE program. If community leaders truly wish to address youth addiction, evidence-based research that compares the costs and benefits of a particular program must be conducted to determine whether society is better off with a program than without it.

Liz Carey

Henderson

Unanswered questions

To the editor:

In her Wednesday letter, Wendy Gelbart makes what I (as a retired Clark County School District teacher) consider to be valid and important points about priorities in the school system. Non-teaching positions suck up a big part of the budget, leaving too little for teachers and even less for needed classroom supplies.

Teachers routinely spend their own money for copy paper and other day-to-day teaching materials that should be furnished out of the budget. Are cuts ever made in the numbers of administrators and other non-teaching personnel? Are the tasks assigned to these people justifiable in terms of necessity and effectiveness? Could the necessary tasks be reassigned so fewer positions are required? Why do we get so little response to such questions?

I also agree with Ms. Gelbart’s prediction that some teachers will get fed up and leave, but I would add the opinion that strong, capable teachers are more likely to leave than ineffective, marginal teachers. There is greater demand for top-quality teachers than for the weaker ones. A disproportionate exodus of teachers would lower the overall quality of the Clark County schools.

Owen Nelson

Las Vegas

Bring back Boulder Dam

To the editor:

They took Sen. Howard Cannon’s name off of the Reno airport. Now they want to take Sen. Pat McCarran’s name off of the airport here in Las Vegas (John L. Smith column, Tuesday Review-Journal).

If we’re going to do away with all of the politically motivated memorials, why don’t we give President Herbert Hoover the boot and start calling Boulder Dam by its real name?

Jerry Speer

Las Vegas

Not funny

To the editor:

Regarding Thursday’s “Chris Crisco” editorial cartoon by Steve Benson of The Arizona Republic, which made fun of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s weight:

Had this been done in school, it would’ve been considered bullying, resulting in suspension or expulsion. If the cartoon made fun of someone for being black or gay, for instance, all hell would’ve broken loose, with people suggesting racism or homophobia.

How about we stick to the real facts and serious issues facing this country, instead of going for cheap shots? We expect the rude taunts from immature bullies on the playground, not from the adults at the Review-Journal.

Dane S. Halovich

Las Vegas