TEENS SURVEYED ABOUT POT, SEX, WELL-BEING

Thousands of teenagers in B.C. schools will be asked probing questions about
their well-being this spring as the McCreary Centre Society distributes its
third adolescent health survey to selected classes in participating school
districts.

The questions, for students in Grades 7 to 12, are expected to be similar to
those posed in 1998, which included: How old were you when you first tried
marijuana? With how many people have you had sexual intercourse? Did you
ever seriously consider suicide? How often do you vomit on purpose after
eating? Have you ever driven a vehicle after drinking?

There were also questions about birth control, sexual orientation, sexually
transmitted diseases, sex abuse, access to weapons, eating habits and
Internet use. The survey asked whether parents were employed, how much they
earned and whether they seemed to care about their offspring.

Responses to the survey are all anonymous.

Some say such questions are far too personal, but Roger Tonkin, the centre's
executive director, said the vast majority of school districts -- 40 of 60
thus far -- have agreed to let the survey into their classrooms, even though
it requires a "sacrifice" of time and resources from a system under pressure
to do more with less.

The result will be the most current and comprehensive report available on
what B.C. teenagers know, think and do about their own health, the centre
says. Such information can be used by education and health officials to
identify trends and devise plans to reduce risky behaviours, Tonkin said.

But Heather Maahs, a Chilliwack parent, said the survey -- to be delivered
to about 30,000 students in selected schools in March, April and May --
delves into subjects that are inappropriate for many students, especially
12-year-olds in Grade 7.

"It's planting thoughts in their heads that shouldn't be there," she said
Sunday. "We wouldn't ask these kinds of questions of adults. To ask them of
students is, in a sense, exploiting their innocence."

Chilliwack is one of several districts that has decided not to participate
in the survey.

Wendy Zajak, a Comox Valley parent, said she objects to any in-class survey
that takes time away from student learning and resents the fact that
students are offered up as "captive audiences" to outside agencies.
Furthermore, she questioned whether results are ever used to develop
programs.

"This is providing a lot of jobs -- that are paid for with our tax money --
for select people," she said. "I think with the funding in education being
what it is, I would rather see that money go to the schools."

Annie McKitrick, Richmond school board chair, said trustees in her district
approved the survey because they believe pinpointing problems will help them
access funding for solutions. If the survey shows an increasing number of
students are smoking, for example, trustees could use that information to
seek health dollars for anti-smoking initiatives, she said.

Richmond and Vancouver districts are notifying parents of the survey but
seeking only what is called "passive consent."

The survey will cost provincial taxpayers $120,000 to $180,000 a year over
four years. The results are expected to be released before Christmas.