THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 22, 1995 TAG: 9506200084
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOE MARINO, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
AS THE CLASS of 1995 moves on, many of tomorrow's leaders will be making their way into the real world. Responsibility for the very future of America eventually will fall on their shoulders.
But what future is that? Will we as a country continue to ride high or will we get pulled under the wheels of our own success?
In The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star's fourth annual survey of high school seniors, only half of the 420 students surveyed thought that the United States still will be the most powerful country on earth by the year 2000.
What were the reasons for this sudden lack of faith in the United States?
``Because overall, their students are doing better than us,'' said Jamila Allen of Maury High School, who chose Japan. ``They're also doing better as a culture, with better family and social values.''
LEAVING TOWN On a different note, more than half of this year's graduates plan to leave the Hampton Roads area after graduation. One reason for this may be that three quarters of them plan to attend a four-year university. Eleven percent of those surveyed plan to attend a two-year college, and 7 percent will join the military.
``I want to go out and explore the world,'' Jamila said. ``That's why I'm going to college in Pittsburgh.''
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL Two major problems for American teens today are drugs and alcohol. Students go through anti-drug and alcohol programs from elementary school onward, and health classes constantly teach awareness and resistance education. Yet nearly four-fifths of area seniors say that they've seen drug and alcohol use go up among people they know.
This figure has climbed every year of the survey. In 1992, only 61 percent of the seniors said drug use had increased. In 1993 it increased to 68 percent. By 1994 it was 71 percent. This year, 79 percent reported an increase in drug and alcohol use among their peers.
So why have the education methods failed?
``Because most parents don't care,'' said Brad Vera, a senior at Lake Taylor High. ``Lots of parents just let their kids keep on doing it. If the parents would look out for their kids, the (alcohol and/or drug) use would stop.''
RACE RELATIONS Another issue raked over by the schools is racial harmony. Getting along with different cultures and different people is generally taught in history and English classes. Yet almost 40 percent of seniors say that race relations have gotten worse since they entered high school.
This figure also has climbed in every senior survey since 1993, when the question was first included. In 1993, 30 percent said that race relations had worsened. In 1994, the figure was 34 percent. This year, it is nearly 40 percent.
What's behind this?
``There seems to be a lot of fighting in school over race,'' said Justin Bariso, a Norview senior, ``and I haven't seen any of it get better. It seems that white kids usually stay together, and black kids usually stay together, but the two groups stay apart.''
Meanwhile, almost a third of the seniors said that different races are getting along better now than before, and 33 percent think students' attitudes have stayed the same since they entered school 13 years ago.
A CHANGE IN VALUES While the void between the races is widening, today's graduates also are separating themselves from traditional family values. The largest response to the question ``I attend church or worship'' was ``never,'' at 25 percent. Almost the same number reported going to church or worshiping once a month. However, 16 percent do so more than once a week.
Also, 33 percent of seniors want abortions to be ``unrestricted under all circumstances.'' Equal numbers (15 percent) wanted them banned completely or available only with parental permission.
OBSTACLES TO SUCCESS Although a public education is free, it is not necessarily free from hassles. Asked about what obstacles stood in the way of achieving all they could have, Norfolk students had answers ranging from parents to excessive homework.
``Some teachers have personality problems,'' Jamila said. ``They have an attitude where they don't like the class, so they don't teach it right.'' MEMO: Joe Marino is a member of the class of 1995 at Bayside High School in
Virginia Beach.
ILLUSTRATION: Color drawing
The cover illustration was done by Steve Quisol, an Advertising
Design student at the Norfolk Technical Vocational Center and a
member of the Booker T. Washington High School class of 1995.
Photo
Steve Quisol
by CNB