www.oaoa.com/news/students_21528___article.html/daniels -
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Published on: 10/5/2008
Last Visited: 10/5/2008
ECISD police officer Jeff Daniels teaches the GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program to sixth-grade students Wednesday at Ross Elementary.
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"A lot of things you give to a community you get back," Daniels told Milam students after they listed quite a few communities they belonged to, including Odessa, home, church, gymnastics and cheerleading.This lesson was all about community - the right kind - not the version found in gangs.
Officer Daniels told students after a reading regarding a group wanting to paint some schools and other buildings that going with the crowd in cases like that could hurt their future.
"A prank doesn't tear people's property up, that is breaking the law," Daniels said.
He also taught students about goal setting, telling them all goals must be realistic, something they have control over, specific in how they will be achieved and be positive in nature, something you want to reach.Students told him about some goals they had and what they want to do to achieve them.For example, one girl wanted to be a veterinarian and said she would work hard in school now so she could get good grades for high school and then college.Daniels wanted students to know that reaching a goal doesn't mean the end, however.
"It isn't a one-time thing; just because I am a police officer doesn't mean I am done learning.I still take training on various subjects," Daniels said.
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Daniels said he has gotten a lot out of the program by teaching it for two years.
"It's opened me up to see things from the point of view of students," Daniels said.Students in the program think he understands them well also.