SCHOOL VIOLENCE NOT RARE

Utah Teens Less Involved But Are Not Uninvolved

Typically in the past year, one of every four Utah high school
students was offered illegal drugs at school.

One of every nine was in a physical fight there.

And one of every 13 was threatened with a weapon at school. And
typically in just the past 30 days, one of every 18 carried a weapon to school.

One of every 26 used alcohol at school.

And one of every 27 used marijuana at school. That widespread use of
drugs, alcohol and violence in Utah high schools is reported in a new
study by the National Center for Educational Statistics, based on
surveys of students in grades nine through 12 in Utah and across the
nation in 2003. The good news for Utah is that such problems are
below the national average in every category.

In some areas, Utah is the lowest among all states that shared data.
In some areas percentages have decreased in the past two years.

According to a report from the State Office of Education the number
of students who drank alcohol in a 30-day period has dropped to about
16 percent in 2005. Likewise the number of students using marijuana
in a 30-day period decreased to 7.6 percent. Verne Larsen, safe and
drug-free schools coordinator for the State Office of Education, said
he credits Utah's lower rankings to two big reasons: religious
practice and a longtime prevention effort. "We live in a state where
the dominant religion talks about substance use particularly,
alcohol, tobacco and other drugs — that has a big impact," Larsen
said. Plus, he said around the mid-'70s Utah recognized the need for
and developed statewide resource materials and programs to go into
schools. Still, Utahns may be surprised at how widespread drugs and
violence are. For example, in the 2003 study Utah was the lowest in
the nation in the number of students in grades nine to 12 who
reported using alcohol anywhere (not just on school grounds) in the
30 days before being surveyed — 21.3 percent.

But that is still one of every five students. And Utah was the lowest
in the nation in the number of high school-age students who reported
using marijuana anywhere (not just on school grounds) in the month
before being surveyed — 11.4 percent.

That is still one of every nine students. But Larsen said percentages
are shrinking because of effective programs and communities coming
together in a comprehensive effort. "I think we are doing a lot more
in schools with our new Prevention Dimension effort and parents are
becoming more aware," Larsen said. "It's a combination of a lot of
things, not just one effort.

But I think the collaboration between schools, agencies and parents
has been a big factor." Larsen said schools are working with law
enforcement, social services, parents and religious organizations on
a common framework. Character development efforts like service
learning programs, social competency and friendship programs and
anti-bullying programs have become strong factors in violence and
alcohol and drug prevention, Larsen said. The NCES study says its
purpose is to help parents and educators see the true scope of
problems to find solutions.

It adds, "Victimized children are more prone to truancy, poor
academic performance, and dropping out of school." It showed that
nationally, schools can also be deadly places.

In the 2002-03 school year studied, it found 15 homicides and eight
suicides at schools nationally. The study said that students ages
12-18 were victims of about 1.9 million nonfatal crimes at school,
"including about 1.2 million thefts and 740,000 violent crimes
(simple assault and serious violent crime) — 150,000 of which were
serious violent crimes (rape, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated
assault)." It said that for every 1,000 students nationally, an
average of 45 would suffer thefts and 28 would be victims of violent
crimes — including six serious violent crimes. "We have become more
aggressive as a society — we are a little meaner than we used to be,"
Larsen said. "I think some of it has to do with media violence
movies, TV shows and video games — kids see stuff now that years ago
you would never see." Schools are not totally safe for teachers, either.

The study said that nationally every year from 1999 through 2003,
teachers were victims of 119,000 thefts and 65,000 violent crimes.

That means that for every 1,000 teachers, there were 25 thefts and 14
violent crimes — including two serious violent crimes. Among other
key national findings, the study said: • In 1999-2000, 71 percent of
public schools suffered one or more violent incidents, and 36 percent
of public schools reported such incidents to police. • In 2003, 21
percent of students ages 12-18 reported that street gangs were
present at their school. • In 2003, 7 percent of students ages 12-18
reported they had been bullied.

That is one of every 14. • In 2003, 33 percent of students in grades
9-12 nationally (and 28.7 percent in Utah) reported being in fights
anywhere, while 12.8 percent (and 11.9 percent in Utah) said they had
been in a fight on school property. • One of every 20 students
nationally (5 percent) in 2003 reported avoiding specific places in
schools because they were fearful, down from 7 percent in 1999.