SOME TRENDS THAT NEED BENDING

The 2005 Community Report Card, discussed at several civic club
meetings recently, contains some encouraging numbers but it also
notes some disturbing news in areas where we could do better in
regards to our younger citizens.

The Report Card began as part of the LINK Norman envisioning process
that began nearly 10 years ago. The rationale for the report was
that change either happens by chance or design.

According to the report the number of juvenile liquor law violations
increased from 20 in 2003 to 80 in 2004. It could be that the police
are doing a better job of enforcing laws or it could be that alcohol
is more readily available to teen-agers.

The report card also includes a national survey that included Norman
school students in grades 9 to 12 indicating students here are much
more likely to "binge" drink. Thirty four percent of the students
surveyed said they have had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row
compared to 25 percent three years earlier.

More than a quarter of the students surveyed said they were offered,
sold or given an illegal drug on school property. That compares to
17 percent in 2001 and 22 percent statewide.