Commentary; Posted: 1/19/05
Minnesota teens making wise choices
Joe Nathan
Guest Columnist
Congratulations Minnesota teenagers! A recently released statewide poll, the Minnesota Student Survey, suggests thousands of youngsters are making wiser decisions than their counterparts of the 1990s.
The poll was given to Minnesota 6th, 9th, and 12th graders. Overall, about two-thirds of students at these grade levels participated in the survey (higher percentages of 6th graders, lower of 9th and 12th). A similar survey has been given to Minnesota students every three years since 1992.
Many interpretations are possible. Hereís mine: Most youngsters do listen to messages from family, educators and the media. Weíve worked hard in the last decade to discourage smoking, drinking and violence in schools. Among the more encouraging findings:
The percentage of seniors reported they smoked cigarettes in the last 30 days dropped from 31% in 1992, to 26.6% in 2004. During the 1990s the percentage had climbed ñ from 31% in 1992, to 39% in 1995, and 42% in 1998.
Percentage of 9th graders who reported they smoked also dropped, from 19% to about 15%. This percentage also climbed in the 1990s, from 19% in 1992 to 31% in 1995 and 30% in 1998. It appears most junior and senior high youngsters are concluding that smoking is a bad idea.
Percentages of students reporting they used alcohol in the last year has dropped steadily since 1992. For seniors, it has gone from 80% in 1992 to 63% in 2004. For 9th graders the percentage declined from 64% in 1992 to 43% in 2004.
It appears the level of violence in schools also has declined. Interestingly, the biggest decline is at 6th grade.
In 1992, 48% of students reported they hit or beat up another person one or more times in the last year. That dropped to 31% in 2004. Percentage of 9th graders doing this dropped from 45 to 33%, and percentage of seniors dropped from 30 to 20%.
The percent of youngsters reported they always wear a seatbelt when riding in a car has increased steadily. For 6th graders, the increase is from 76% to 85%. For 9th and 12th graders, the increase is from 66% to 78%.
Not surprisingly, the news is not all good. Percent of students using marijuana is up slightly from 1992 to 2004, although it has declined from the mid and late 1990s.
Percentage of students skipping school is up slightly at all grade levels, and percent of students reporting that someone pushed, showed or grabbed them in school is pretty stable at 9th grade (45% in 1995 and 2004, and 12th grade (25% in 1995, 28% in 2004). It declined at 6th grade ñ from 63% in 1995 to 55% in 2004.
Moreover, a significant percentage of students report liking school just a little, or not much. Iíll say more about this in a future column.
Overall, youngsters seem to be responding. Thatís encouraging and sobering. What we say matters.
The writer directs the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He can be reached at jnathan@hhh.umn.edu.
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