ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 21, 1997 TAG: 9702210067
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
WILLIAM FLEMING STUDENTS also believe their school is more peaceful and drug-free than the majority of U.S. students describe their own schools.
Fashion is no big deal at William Fleming High School.
But nationally, more than 70 percent of public high school students said "too much attention to clothes" is a serious problem at school, making it one of the top problems cited in a recent survey by Public Agenda, a national, nonprofit public opinion research and education organization.
The half-dozen Roanoke students interviewed also differed from the poll results on other issues, including drug dealing and disruptive students.
"I don't think [fashion] is a big issue here," said Ayanna Thompson, a senior at Fleming. "Everyone wants to be accepted, and you want to let other people know you have something in common with them, but there isn't any pressure on clothes here."
"I just wear what I want to," said freshman Cochise Bryant. "I don't let anyone pressure me."
Senior Kaila Thompson said most Fleming students don't judge their classmates by their clothing. "As long as your clothes are clean, you're OK.''
Clothes are a concern for some younger students, and that seems to be the reason some Roanoke middle schools, such as Ruffner, are discussing school uniforms, said David Staniunas, a senior.
But he shared his classmates' view that clothes aren't an obsession at the Roanoke high school.
"It's almost a paradox," he said. "It's a matter of personal expression, but you don't feel any pressure."
The Fleming students' attitudes on clothes seem to more closely reflect those at private schools nationwide, based on the national survey.
Only 42 percent of private school students said students give too much attention to what they wear and what they look like.
In the national survey of 1,000 public high school students and 250 students in private schools, 71 percent of public school students cited disruptive students as a serious problem.
William Fleming has some disruptive students, but it is not a major problem, said Jeff Livermon, a sophomore.
"You have some people who cause trouble, but it's nothing serious," Livermon said.
Kaila Thompson said there were about 10 fights at the school last year - maybe one a month - but most were minor.
"There were fights over little stuff," Bryant said. "Someone said the wrong thing or something like that."
As on the clothing issue, there was a contrast between the findings for public and private schools on disruptive students. Only 42 percent of private school students said there were too many disruptive students at their school.
Nationally, half of the students in public high schools said their schools let students get away with not doing their work and fail to challenge them to do their best.
But the William Fleming students said most of their teachers are strict and require them to do their work.
Sophomore Alyssa Zuckerman said one of the biggest problems at Fleming is motivation.
"Some students don't seem to care and don't do their work," Zuckerman said. "It's a problem for the students, and it's not the school's problem. I don't know if it can be changed."
Kaila Thompson said some students don't take advantage of the opportunities at the school and won't take responsibility for their studies.
"Some students seem to come to school just to socialize," she said. "They expect the school to fix everything for them."
The students said drugs are not a serious problem at the school, although nearly half of public high school students in the national survey cited this as a concern at their school.
Livermon said there are some drugs at William Fleming, but Ayanna Thompson said it's not a serious problem.
"I haven't run into them. There is no dealing of drugs here," she said.
Nearly 50 percent of public high school students nationally said the equipment and textbooks at their schools are out of date. But the Fleming students said most of their equipment is modern because of the federal magnet grants the school has received.
"We have the best facilities and equipment around," Livermon said. "We have a lot of new equipment,"
But Bryant said some of the school's sports facilities need to be upgraded.
"All of the grant money has gone for technology and things like that, but the sports teams have needs," he said.
The students had one complaint about Fleming that is heard at most high schools: the poor condition of restrooms. They said some students litter and damage fixtures in the restrooms.
Despite the problems, 70 percent of teen-agers nationally said their own high schools are good or excellent - compared with 55 percent of adults, based on a previous Public Agenda survey.
The Fleming students also gave good marks to their school.
"I like the way the school has something for everyone, with the magnet center, International Baccalaureate program and courses," Ayanna Thompson said.
Bryant thinks the school's teachers try hard to help students succeed. And Staniunas points to the school's modern labs and technology, which were largely financed with federal funds.
LENGTH: Long : 112 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: JANEL RHODA/Staff. 1. William Fleming High Schoolby CNBstudents find speed and traction more important than looks as they
move in and out of the cafeteria Thursday afternoon. 2. Ayanna
Thompson says, "There is no dealing of drugs here." 3. Alyssa
Zuckerman says, "Some students don't seem to care and don't do their
work." 4. Cochise Bryant says, "I just wear what I want to. I don't
let anyone pressure me." 5. Jeff Livermon says, "You have some
people who cause
trouble, but it's nothing serious." color. 6. Cuffed baggies at
William Fleming High School still pose the question: How do they
keep their britches up? Graphic: Chart by staff: School problems. KEYWORDS: MGR