THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 18, 1995 TAG: 9506160194
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Class of '95
SOURCE: BY JOE MARINO HIGH SCHOOL, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 103 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 would still 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 nuclear weapons and world hunger will be widespread,'' said Joel Hardy, a Wilson High School senior, who believes the United Nations will be all-powerful. ``Everyone will have the same problems, and then we'll start fighting. No one country will have the most power.'' Leaving town
On a somewhat different note, Eric Johnson, a Churchland High School senior, thought Japan would be the most powerful country.
``They're up a little bit on their technology,'' he said. ``They also push their students more and they give them better educations.
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.
``I plan to be a news anchor,'' said ``so whoever hires me, I'll go where they are.'' 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 as times go on, people gradually change,'' said Jason Smith, a Wilson senior. ``People drink alcohol or smoke weed because they want to try something different. They want to experiment. Peer pressure is also a factor.'' 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?
``There is a lot of animosity between the two races,'' said Jason. ``They just don't seem to get along.''
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
While 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 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, Portsmouth students had answers ranging from rude students to annoying rules.
``There are so many rules dealing with race relations and fighting, it makes school a place you don't want to go at all,'' Jason said. ``It's like a jail. It's pretty bad when you can't even chew a piece of gum because some idiot can't keep from putting it under his desk.'' MEMO: ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joe Marino is a graduating senior at Bayside Senior High School in
Virginia Beach. ILLUSTRATION: ON THE COVER
Steve Quisol, a senior Advertising Design student at Norfolk
Technical Vocational Center, designed the illustration on the cover
of today's Currents.
Chart and graphic of 1995 Annual Senior Survey
For complete information see microfilm
by CNB