THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 18, 1995 TAG: 9506150229
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 47 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOE MARINO HIGH SCHOOL, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
As the class of 1995 moves on, many of tomorrow's leaders will make their way into the real world. Responsibility for America's future will eventually fall on their shoulders.
But what future is that? Will we as a country continue to ride high, or will we be pulled under the wheels of our own success? By 2000, will the United States still be the most powerful country on earth?
In The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star's fourth annual survey of high school seniors, just half of the 420 responding students in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina thought the country would remain a superpower.
``I think the United States will be,'' said Jennifer Johnson, a senior from Manteo High School. ``In the next 10 years, I don't think it will drop too far from being a world power, unless somebody drops a nuclear bomb.''
Area high school seniors were polled on a variety of topics, from race relations to volunteering.
Here's a composite sketch of the class of 1995:
DRUGS & ALCOHOL
Two major problems for America's teens are drugs and alcohol. Students go through anti-drug and alcohol programs from elementary school onward, and health classes constantly preach awareness and resistance education. Yet nearly four-fifths of responding seniors say they've seen drug and alcohol use go up among people they know.
This figure has climbed every year of this survey. In 1992, 61 percent of the seniors said drug use had increased. The figure rose to 68 percent in 1993 and 71 percent in 1994. This year, 79 percent reported an increase in drug and alcohol use among their peers.
So why have the education methods failed?
It's simple, said Sherita Chatman, a senior from Currituck County High School. ``People think drugs and alcohol are cool.''
RACE RELATIONS
Another issue plugged 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 responding seniors say that race relations have gotten worse since they entered high school.
What's behind this?
``A lot of people seem ignorant,'' Sherita said. ``They think that race is important, but it isn't.''
Meanwhile, almost a third of the seniors said 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
Today's graduates indicate they are also separating themselves from traditional values such as churchgoing. 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.
About a third of seniors said they want abortions to be ``unrestricted under all circumstances.'' About 15 percent each said they want abortion banned completely or available only with parental permission. A third of respondents had other opinions.
EDUCATION OBSTACLES
Although a public education is free, it is not necessarily free from hassles. Asked what obstacles stood in the way of achieving all they could have, North Carolina students had answers ranging from jobs to weight problems.
One student said laziness was his problem, then neglected to finish his survey.
``Apathetic students and teachers have stood in my way,'' said Jennifer of Manteo. ``Also, we didn't learn about the best possible things. The way school was set up, there were classes with people who just didn't care. It seems like all we ever did was do section reviews and then take tests. It wasn't real learning. It was a waste of taxpayers' money.'' MEMO: Joe Marino is a senior at Bayside High School in Virginia Beach. ILLUSTRATION: Chart of 1995 Annual Senior Survey appears on page 49. For
complete information see microfilm.
by CNB