THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 8, 1994 TAG: 9407080080
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
VALUING POSITIVE role models, staying off drugs and showing a little respect were some suggestions Back Talk callers gave this week when answering the question, ``What can students do to take the lead in making our schools a better place?''
Here's more of what young people had to say:
``I think students have to show our teachers how to make learning fun. That way, teachers can try to motivate students, who might just learn something.'' - Megan Young, 11, rising seventh grader, Larkspur Middle School
``I think if we had more positive role models in the school system that would encourage the children to do better, the students would advance.'' - Kimberly Glenn, 10, rising sixth-grader, Landstown Middle School
Students need to learn respect for their schools, teachers, and peers. School needs to be a place for learning and not anything else.'' - Rachel Cox, 15, rising junior, First Colonial High School
``The only way we can improve school life is to get the drugs out of school. You can't just kick all the students out who are using drugs. You need to get more drug education and you can't just get the old 50-year-olds who have never smoked a joint to go in there.
``You need to get young people who are in recovery from drug addiction to go in there and say, `Look, this is how it is.' Low grades are related to drugs. Vandalism is related to drugs. Arson is related to drugs. . . There are so many things in the public schools that are drug-related and people just aren't willing to look at it.'' - Sarah Forbes, 20, of Virginia Beach
``People should stop complaining and start acting.'' - Andrea Montague, 15, rising sophomore, Gates County High School by CNB