THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 1, 1994 TAG: 9407010064
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TEENSPEAK
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
FROM SCHOOL vandalism to massive absenteeism to straight up boredom, students say the public school life isn't the best these days.
But after spending last week at the Norfolk Public Schools Senior High Summer Leadership Workshop, a few believe that change can come easily.
When asked the Teenspeak question, ``What can students do to take the lead in making our schools a better place to learn?'' the optimistic student leaders had a long list of suggestions.
Generating school spirit was one solution all six students agreed on.
``If you walk around without school spirit, you don't care about vandalism, your grades or what's going on in the school,'' said Heather Shannon, 15, a rising sophomore at Norview. ``You don't care about anything.''
Student leaders also suggested schoolwide cleanups. ``We could assign community service,'' said Hunter Merritt, 14, a Maury High sophomore. ``Maybe students would learn respect if they had to clean up their schools.''
Angela Parson, 17, a rising senior at Booker T. Washington High, added that students should encourage each other. ``If they came to school with a sense of belonging, the motivation and the pride would be there,'' she said.
Just showing up for class is another way students can improve their environments and attitudes.
``Students need to come to school,'' said Anderson Bright, 18, a rising senior at Lake Taylor High. Anderson pointed out that students' grades suffer when they are excessively absent, and this in turn, makes the school look bad.
Hunter also said that peer tutoring and counseling programs ``should be encouraged.''
Motivating students to participate in school-related activities was another suggestion. Activities should be fun and open to all.
``If (students) are bored, they don't want to participate,'' said Jenny Alindogan, 15, a rising sophomore at Granby High School.
Organizing more student meetings also can improve campus activities.
``It doesn't take much,'' said Margie Kabigting, 16, a rising junior at Norview. ``We just need to work together.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Jenny Lynn Alindogan, 15, rising sophomore at Granby High School
Heather Shannon, 15, rising sophomore at Norview High School
Hunter Merritt, 14, rising sophomore at Maury High School
Anderson Bright, 18, rising senior at Lake Taylor High School
Margie Kabigting, 16, rising junior at Norview High School
by CNB