THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 25, 1995 TAG: 9506230187
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
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 will eventually 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 will still be the most powerful country on earth by the year 2000.
What were the reasons for this lack of faith in the United States?
``Because we have so many domestic problems,'' said Sonya Barrenger, a Princess Anne High School senior. ``I think that with problems like homelessness and AIDS the most powerful country definitely will not be the United States, but probably Germany.''
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 seven percent will join the military.
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 there's nothing else for kids to do anymore,'' said Katie Toth, an Ocean Lakes High School senior. ``On the weekends, all kids want to do is go out and party.''
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 has also 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?
``I am Asian, and I used to hang around with all black people,'' said Hiep Nguyen, a Cox High senior. ``Then I started hanging around with all white people. It seems like when anybody joked people of their own race, they were just playing around, but when they joked someone of another race, they were serious. I guess they just don't like each other.''
Meanwhile, almost a third of the seniors said that different races are getting along better now than before, while 33 percent think students' attitudes have stayed the same since they entered school 13 years ago.
A CHANGE IN VALUES
If the void between the races is widening, today's graduates are also 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 many seniors thought their education was decent, they did not all find it free from hassles. Asked about what obstacles stood in the way of achieving all they could have, Virginia Beach students had answers ranging from harsh parents to lazy teachers to getting suspended for defending themselves in school.
Olympia Snyder, a First Colonial High School senior, answered ``For nine-and-a-half years, I went to a private school. I was in the lower percent of the class, and the teachers didn't care about you if your grades weren't way up there.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff graphic by Adriana Libreros
1995 Annual Senior Survey
For copy of graphic, see microfilm
KEYWORDS: SURVEY POLL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES by CNB