Rising high schoolers list getting lost as chief concern
It’s not drugs or peer pressure. It’s not bullying or teasing. No, the biggest fear local students have about coming to Warren County High School is getting lost and being late to class, according to a recent survey of county middle school age students.
“The school isn’t very user-friendly,” agreed school board member Dr. Deborah Watlington upon reading the survey. “The halls aren’t real friendly – they’re prison-like. Maybe that’s why they’re escaping,” referring to the high check-out and absentee rates for students at the high school.
Watlington suggested allowing the school’s art students to paint murals on the walls or perhaps painting different colored stripes in each hall, similar to the halls at Hickory Creek Elementary School, in an effort to spice up the school’s aesthetics.
The survey, conducted by the school board’s student advisory committee in late April, targeted county students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. The student advisory committee is group of four high school students chosen each year to advise the school board on student-related issues. This year’s survey had focused on drugs and alcohol.
Approximately 23 percent of 127 students surveyed said they have seen drugs in their schools and 26 percent said they knew where they could get drugs if so desired. While less than 10 percent said they have felt pressured to use drugs or alcohol, 83 percent said they are aware the help they could receive should they develop a problem.
Just over half of the respondents said they didn’t know of anyone who uses drugs or alcohol. Of the remainder, a majority said their peers began using drugs or alcohol between the ages of 11 and 14.
The students surveyed said their friends would be their biggest influence in making the decision to use alcohol. Social status and family were secondary influences cited.
In another category, 30 percent of respondents said they have seen a classmate with a weapon, while 25 percent said they have felt threatened by a classmate.
“The student advisory committee did a real good job. These were really good questions asked,” said school board chairman David Sneed. “We need to look at the findings and talk about them at (the board’s winter) retreat.”
Student survey
A sampling of sixth, seventh and eighth grade students across the county was recently surveyed by the school board’s student advisory committee. Here are results of that survey (all percentages are approximate and some may add up to more than 100 percent since some students put more than one answer):
What is you biggest fear about coming to the high school?
• Getting lost/late to class – 32 percent
• Making new friends/fitting in – 24 percent
• Bullying/teasing – 19 percent
• Drugs/peer pressure – 11 percent
• Other (grades, teachers, etc.) – 24 percent
Have you seen drugs in your school?
• Yes – 23 percent
• No – 77 percent
Do you know a place to buy drugs or someone to get drugs?
• Yes – 26 percent
• No – 74 percent
Do you feel pressured to use drugs/alcohol?
• Yes – 8 percent
• No – 92 percent
At what age did you or your peers begin using drugs or alcohol?
• Don’t know of anyone who uses drugs or alcohol – 53 percent
• 10 or under – 5 percent
• 11-12 – 13 percent
• 13-14 – 20 percent
•15-16 – 6 percent
• 17 or over – 2 percent
What would be your biggest influence regarding drugs/alcohol?
• Friends/peers – 54 percent
• Social status – 16 percent
• Family – 16 percent
• No influence – 20 percent
Have you seen classmates with a weapon?
• Yes – 31 percent
• No – 69 percent
Have you or one of your friends been in a fight at school?
• Yes – 79 percent
• No – 21 percent
Are there classmates by whom you feel threatened?
• Yes – 25 percent
• No – 75 percent