PROPOSALS FOR BETTER SCHOOLS
"If we create a good school system children will succeed. The spiritual exposure that founded this country will provide the children with faith in themselves." Erik Russell, Phoenix High School, Phoenix, Oregon
"The only way we can make a change in our country is if everyone gets involved, and the most influential place to start is the schools. Here, the teachers should show the importance of responsibility and how it has such a great effect on society. Hopefully in this way the upcoming generations will take responsibility in everything they do." Katie Wettstein, Eureka, High School, Eureka, Illinois
*Hopefully! It is apparent that Erik and Katie are optimists.
"Too many teachers are not prepared with instructions on how to deal with disruptive students and how to break up fights before they end in murder. School systems can help stop the violence cycle by identifying fight-prone children when they are young and introduce them to non-violent altern- atives. Other ways schools can help are: offering peer mediation, clear- cut standards, consistent discipline, ways to instill basic values of right and wrong, and to teach young people to respect themselves and others. However, it is the parent's responsibility to begin these lessons at home. Children absorb the behavior accepted by their parents and also by the community to which the family belongs. If a child grows up in a community where citizenship is taken seriously and people work together to improve conditions, the children get the feeling of obligation to the neighborhood as well as the family." Lori Wicklund, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"Schools need to take more care in hiring teachers. They need teachers who are not afraid to talk about race relations, guy/girl relations, and moral values. The question of whose values are to be used has nothing to do with religion, because if parents are doing their part, the schools can work on a broader base." Heather Stearns, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois
*The trouble is we know parents do not always "do their part"! A Gallup Youth Survey found that only 17 percent of teens felt attendance at church on a regular basis was of little or no importance. Even though the Foundation is generally adverse to statistics that break down behavior in terms of race, age or sex, in this instance so many people were surprised by the additional breakdown that we are going against our own policy and including Gallup's finding that 64 percent of non-white teens found church attendance important vs 47 percent of white teens. What these figures said to some of us is that the people who are most often criticized by the rest of society, and who have to endure the brunt of the violence and decay in our country, may be the ones who are trying the most valiantly to raise the standards of their own families and communities. Maybe they not only need, but would welcome and deserve some outside help.
*Many students suggested in the papers submitted to the Foundation that religion, values and responsibility go hand in hand:
"I think that the state should let religion back in the schools..." Matthew Grandon, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
"[I would] allow students to discuss their religion with other students and students who perhaps know no religion. [I would] have classroom discussions of problems that students face at home. [I would] allow teachers to discuss their morals and values, even when they don't agree with the parents' morals and values." Jeremy Wyatt, Camden High School, Camden, Tennessee
"A values program could be introduced into the educational system. It would be free from religious prejudice. Ð This program could include a 'code of ethics' to be followed by the teachers. ...This could eventually develop into a nation-wide program entitled E.V.E. (Encouraging Values Everywhere)." Sara Peterson, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"By implementing new and better programsÐthat teach respect, tolerance, responsibility, and honesty, this country will better prepare the future generations." Rebecca P. Moore, Aubrey High School, Aubrey, Texas
"Within a school environment, children can be exposed to 'value education'. This is an idea that schools can reinforce the importance of such virtues as honesty and being trustworthy. The result of such a program would be that children will acquire information that will help them make respon- sible decisions, therefore they will become better citizens in their own communities." Michelle R. Gannon, Rock Hill Senior High, Ironton, Ohio
*Kelli (below) advocates more action and less talk:
"School is a place where morals and values should be exercised and not taught. Kids are expected to be on time, respect their elders, and allot their time wisely in order to finish homework. When these basic principles are not taught in the home, they cannot be exercised in the school." Kelly Shehi, Seaman High School, Topeka, Kansas
"Thirty-five years ago school reform was spurred by exaggerated fears of Soviet scientific advancement. More recently American concern has centered on economic competition from Japan and Germany. These insecurities stem from global ratios of test scores and competitions. Why does it not stem from a sense of morals and duties? If the classroom is to be reformed then one has to start with the beliefs of the kids and go from there. What good is education if the children do not believe in it? Many educators say that there is a group of basic beliefs---tolerance, honesty, respect, diligence that belongs in the classroom. Even educators who welcome the return to values believe there is a limit to what the classroom can accomplish. In the face of poverty, family instability, and social disorganization, parents want schools to fill a 'values vacuum'." Stephanie Renee French, Camden High School, Camden, Tennessee
"I think that schools should start teaching a lot more ethics in classes." Ryan J Csaftis, Phoenix, High School, Phoenix, Oregon
*Students were well aware that what they were advocating was controversial:
"When teaching values in school is mentioned many people become irritated. Issues on race and religion are very touchy due mostly to the social revolutions of the 1960's. Up until then educators felt very comfortable about teaching ethics. But in today's society it would be considered absurd. There are too many cultures and different standards of moral[ity]. A solution to this ethical gridlock is the teaching of tolerance and honesty, for these are basic beliefs. We can also study the past; this way people can see the error of human nature and draw their own conclusions." Ryan L. Moore, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois
"People should try to live by principle. The main source of this is religion. Culture sets standards and values that everyone in it must follow. Schools have a tough time teaching this because of the U.S. Constitution and because of parents complaining about teaching their child different principles than their religion or non-religion offers. Children need precise rules, values and standards. Without these, they do not know what is expected from them and how they are supposed to act." Mandi Countryman, Kinsley High School, Kinsley, Kansas
"Values should also be taught in the classroom. ...My mother, a math teacher of ten years, tries to include values in her lessons. They may range from whether or not to return lost money to dealing with suicidal children. Value lessons should be taught as early as Kindergarten, when children are easier to influence in the ways of right and wrong." Keli Crane, Blue Ridge High, Blue Ridge, Texas
"We can not always be taking advantage of each other when we get the chance. We need schools where solid values can be taught through child- hood into adulthood. Society needs reinforcement of character and values in homes, public institutions, movies, and television." Justin Johnson, Freeman High School, Rockford, Washington
*The next excerpt may be even more controversial than those dealing with religion, values and ethics:
"At a time when many parents are unwilling to help their children, the schools should take over."Jill Hayhurst, Seaman High School, Topeka, Kansas
*Of course many people do not want the schools to "take over." But skipping that discussion for the time being, it is a fact that many parents find it difficult to discuss sex with their children, and that was what Jill (above) had in mind.
"Educating teenagers about sexual activity is the most direct way to control teenage pregnancy."Carie Mitchell, Camden High, Camden, Tennessee
*Carrie is correct. Unfortunately schools are left to fill in for reluctant parents. As you would imagine, students had many concrete proposals in this area--the first group involves parents:
"The first step needs to be the education of parents. In order to accomplish this, [incentives] may have to be used. For example if the parents attend an educational meeting andÐpromote abstinence, then they receive a reduction on school fees. In educating the parents, show them statistics, tell them the effect it [teen pregnancy] has on children, and tell them what they need to do about it. The second step should be the education of children. Tell them the problem and show them the statistics in a tactful, but friendly manner. Use their language and get them involved and excited about changing towards abstinence. Use examples, music, acting, and language to get through to them. Finally have TV promote abstinence through programs and commercials." Sara Knobloch, Eureka High School, Eureka, Illinois
"Another way to help teach the truth about sex is to have the parents talk to their kids first. My mother was very shy about talking about those kinds of things. I wish she would have been able to be the one I talked to, but I found out most the things from friends and television. And most of those things turned out to be false. I think classes should be provided, if not mandatory for parents to attend. Simple classes that teach the basics; how to talk to your child about sex, what kinds of things they need to know and are curious about. Also, once kids start understanding that they do not have to engage in it just because they think it's better for their age, the problem will start shaping up. It used to be uncouth for teenagers to have sex, now it is used for a status symbol. The youth of today has to be shown that you can achieve, and not 'put-out'." Sasha Mshar, Kiona-Benton High School, Benton City, Washington
"Make birth control readily available, and inexpensive. Make more teen clinics where teens can go and ask questions, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. I think that condoms should be available for students at school when they need [them]. Most of all we need to educate our parents... so that the school doesn't need to take on the full responsibility of educating the youth." Tracey Weiss, Pioneer High, San Jose, California
"I would have a health class make and send out flyers to all parents of
teenagers telling them the statistics of teens having sex, to try and
convince parents that statistics show that their teens are having sex.
In the flyers it would tell the parents that if they have a hard time
talking to their kids about sex, that the health class is holding seminars
and has videotapes and brochures. This would be a nationwide health class
project. Each school would make up their own flyers and brochures and hold
their own seminars. They would get their information from magazines and
teenage pregnancy organizations. Included in the brochures, videotapes and