THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606150105
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY KIA MORGAN ALLEN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 133 lines
TODAY'S GRADUATES are pumped and ready to get moving - away from high school, that is.
However, more than half of Portsmouth's graduates are not ready to bid Hampton Roads farewell. They say they plan to stay.
That's just one response of many from The Virginian-Pilot's fifth annual survey of high school seniors. The Virginian-Pilot surveyed 777 students in Hampton Roads, including 100 in Portsmouth.
While the 1996 senior class of Portsmouth said it was ready to leave high school, most members said they were satisfied with the education they received.
However, they are concerned. They know friends who carry guns to school. Some have experimented with drugs. But these respondents claim they have enough information to keep them focused and headed in the right direction.
Eighty-nine percent of Portsmouth teens reported they know enough about AIDS to protect themselves. One-third of Portsmouth seniors, or 36 percent, like President Clinton's work and would vote him in as a second-term president in November. Forty-one percent would vote for Colin Powell; 18 percent would vote for Bob Dole.
This is what Portsmouth seniors had to say:
Quality of education.
These seniors are optimistic - 62 percent claim they are satisfied with their educational quality and rated it as good. More than 63 percent of Portsmouth graduates have plans to advance their education by attending a four-year college or university.
Adam Crosnoe, a 17-year-old senior at Churchland High School, said he's pretty satisfied with his education.
``I think I could have tried a lot more, but where I am now I'm graduating as an honor student,'' Crosnoe said. ``I worked my butt off to get that.''
Chara Lewis, 18, a senior at I.C. Norcom High School, said of her education:
``The teachers help you if you need help. They stress academic excellence for students.''
Another Norcom student, Korey Hughes, said:
``I think we were able to look at things at a whole different angle. It was a unique learning experience.''
Race relations.
In schools, some teens have found that race relations have improved. However, 39 percent say race relations remain unchanged. More than three-quarters of Portsmouth teens - 84 percent - reported having close friends of another race.
Quentin Harrell, a 17-year-old senior at Woodrow Wilson who is black, says he thinks the race relationships at his school have remained uneasy.
``In school, we ride the same bus, but when we get in there people hang with their groups,'' he said. ``That's just the way it is. There's stress and tension between those two (whites and blacks).''
Norcom's Hughes said he thinks race relations have worsened.
``I think there's a stigma between the races at school because it's predominately black,'' he said. ``I just stayed focused on my goals. I don't really worry about prejudice. I try to rise above that.''
Drugs and alcohol.
Two major problems plague the minds of today's teens. They see drugs and alcohol in some neighborhoods and even in the schools.
Seven of 10 graduating seniors feel that the use of drugs and alcohol by their peers has increased since they started school. Seventy-four percent of Portsmouth seniors think drug and alcohol use by peers increased. Still, 43 percent reported experimenting with marijuana. Others say drugs are used heavily in the schools because of the attention society gives them and the way they are promoted.
Norcom's Lewis said this about drugs:
``I'm smart. That's stupid. I just have good sense to know they (drugs) cause trouble.''
Norcom's Hughes said:
``Drugs increased a little. I got involved in a lot of extracurricular activities and took higher classes. It kept me out of trouble.''
Drinking has become a major problem among teens. However, 45 percent of the Portsmouth students claim they never drink alcohol. The remaining 55 percent have a variety of drinking habits that range from drinking less than twice a month to drinking every day.
One Churchland High School student said she has never had a drink and doesn't care to.
``I wouldn't want to do it anyway,'' said Olivia Monis, a senior at Churchland High.
Harrell agreed.
``I just never wanted to do that,'' he said. ``I was brought up like that.''
AIDS and abortion.
Although 89 percent of respondents say they know enough about AIDS to protect themselves, many say that more could be done to educate students.
``I think I have learned quite enough to protect myself,'' said Jeffrey Bristow, an 18-year-old senior at Churchland High School. ``But I would like to know more.''
On the touchy issue of abortion, 49 percent of the Portsmouth teens thought abortion should not be banned under any circumstances. Monis, among 24 percent of seniors, said she feels it should be restricted for minors. Fourteen percent think it should be banned under all circumstances, 6 percent think it should be banned completely, and 7 percent say they don't know.
``If they (teens) think they are old enough to have sex, then they should take care of the baby,'' Monis said.
Other factors.
With peer pressure and other factors that could hinder students' scholastic achievement, seniors were asked if anything stood in their way of doing the most they could in school. If so, what?
``Too many priorities and not enough time. They were created by both myself as well as outside forces,'' said Ebonee Mitchell, a student at Churchland High School.
Mitchell added:
``Trying to juggle working 40-plus hours and handling my schoolwork. Trying to remain on the honor roll has also been very stressful.'' MEMO: [For a complete list of Portsmouth area graduates and
valedictorians' profiles, both private schools and public schools, see
microfilm for this date.] ILLUSTRATION: ON THE COVER
Cover illustration of graduation memorabilia is by staff
photographer Steve Earley.
THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 1996 HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR SURVEY
The Virginian-Pilot surveyed 777 graduating seniors in South Hampton
Roads in the Fifth Annual Survey of High School Seniors. Today's
graduates shared their opinions on a variety of issues including the
quality of the education they received, alcohol and drug use by
their peers, politics, religion, race relations, AIDS, abortion,
violence and religion.
[For a copy of the sample of questions and responses, see microfilm
for this date.]
KEYWORDS: GRADUATION '96 by CNB