MIDDLE SCHOOL RISK SURVEY SHOWS IMPROVEMENTS

Middle school youth in Needham are drinking less, smoking less, using
marijuana less and engaging in sexual intercourse less than they were
five years ago, according to recently released survey results. Fewer
are also thinking about suicide or making plans to kill themselves,
the survey shows.

The numbers for this cohort of students may seem encouraging,
especially given that a recently released Youth Risk Behavior Survey
of Needham High School students showed binge-drinking among that group
to be higher than the state average and marijuana use to be
skyrocketing as it was throughout the state and the country.

Educators and parents are nevertheless interpreting the middle school
results of the same survey with caution and refusing to let down their
guard.

"I think these were the results of a class that did well
academically," said Pollard Middle School Principal Joe Barnes,
speculating that it's possible that students who are doing well in
school are also making good decisions in their personal lives.

The 2004 survey was administered only to eighth-graders, after
educators decided responses for that grade were more reliable than
answers for younger grades. The 2004 summary compares that year's
results to eighth-grade responses from previous years.

The results

According to the 2004 survey results, fewer than one in 10 students
had ever tried a cigarette - an improvement over 2000, when more than
a quarter reported they had tried one.

Marijuana use also dropped from 16 percent in 2000 to 9 percent in
2004, and fewer than a third of students reported in 2004 that they
had tried alcohol, whereas 40 percent had reported in the 2000 survey
that they had done so. Fewer than one in 10 reported in the 2004
survey that they had sexual intercourse, whereas the 2000 survey
showed 12 percent having done so.

"It's a bit encouraging that those numbers are going down," said
Pollard parent Mary Piltch, who attended a presentation and discussion
of the 2004 survey results at the middle school last week. But she
also said, "I'm cautiously optimistic."

Another parent, Susan Dana, observed that some of the behaviors the
survey studies, such as marijuana use, are difficult to imagine in
relation to such young children.

"It's still pretty shocking to think about at the middle school
level," she said.

The state Department of Education administers the Youth Risk Behavior
Survey regularly to high schools around the state, though some school
systems such as Needham administer it independently to their own
students. Unlike Needham, the state does not administer the test to
middle schoolers.

Kathy Pinkham, director of health and physical education for the
school system, said the group of students who took the 2004 survey may
have benefited from the caring community of adults by which they are
surrounded, as well as school systemwide initiatives to teach social
and emotional behavior.

"The idea is for kids to get practice with decision-making," Pinkham
said, describing some of the initiatives to which Needham kids are
exposed starting in elementary school.

Proceeding with caution

But Pinkham and others agree that the numbers do not simply speak for
themselves.

Some questions in the survey may not be as clearly defined as they
could be. One parent, Gloria Greis, who attended last week's
presentation of the results, wondered whether the percentage of
students who reported they had tried alcohol also took into account
those who had been allowed a sip of champagne by their parents as part
of a New Year's celebration.

Pinkham noted that a number of questions might not have been defined
clearly enough. For example, she said, "Kids had to determine in their
own minds what a regular smoker is."

In addition, the 2004 survey was administered only shortly after the
state cut the tobacco money that had been paying for anti-smoking
initiatives in the schools and community.

"That was a substantial amount of money," Pinkham said, adding that
she would be curious to see when future surveys are administered what
impact the loss of the tobacco money had.

As for marijuana use, while it was down on the whole, it had gone up
among female students from 7 percent in 2000 to 10 percent in 2004.

Nutrition and exercise data was also difficult to interpret, Pinkham
said. While fewer students in 2004 than in 2000 reported having
resorted to unhealthy weight-loss techniques such as not eating,
taking pills or powders, vomiting or using laxatives, fewer also
reported using healthier weight-loss techniques.

"What we don't do is cross-tabulate," Pinkham said, explaining that it
was possible some youth were using a combination of healthy and
unhealthy weight-loss techniques.

Finally, some of the statistics are simply worrisome to adults, even
if they are improving from year to year.

"I'm always troubled, although not shocked, by adolescent
promiscuity," Barnes said. Only 30 students reported in 2004 that they
had sexual intercourse, a lower percentage than in previous years. But
significantly more - 15 percent, or 51 students - reported that they
had engaged in oral sex. The 2004 survey was the first survey to ask
this question, because research suggested students were participating
in oral sex but not considering it a sexual activity.

Youth Commission Director Jon Mattleman said that regardless of
whether the numbers are going down and no matter what they were, they
need to be taken seriously.

"I see the numbers going down. On the other hand, I always want to
remember that we're looking at a percentage, and behind that
percentage is a certain number of kids," he said.

Mattleman also noted that although some may doubt the accuracy of the
Youth Risk Behavior Survey, he feels it is an effective and accurate
questionnaire developed over many years by the state.

"I think it's an excellent one," he said.

Parental involvement is key

While Pinkham has not yet developed formal recommendations for action
in response to each of the categories surveyed, the school system and
Pollard in particular are proposing a number of initiatives to improve
students' health.

"The Needham Public Schools has a philosophy of creating a school and
community partnership," Pinkham said, adding that one of the key ways
to do this is by developing a network to support young people's
health. Sharing the results of the school-administered health survey
with parents is one way to develop that support system, Pinkham said.

Barnes also stressed that parental involvement is key to improving
young people's social and emotional health.

"I think the values and the direction kids get are at home," Barnes
said. "We can't be the ones doing that."

Mattleman agreed that parents need to be proactive in helping their
children to avoid risky behavior and not assume that the schools would
teach them everything they need to know. He also said all parts of a
community, not just the schools, need to be involved with supporting
children's health.

"The message is what's going on in our community, not what's going on
in the schools," Mattleman said.

School initiatives

Still, the schools hope to try to help in a number of specific ways,
perhaps by altering the culture at the middle school.

"If we could have some way for kids to come forward who are in
trouble," Pinkham said. She noted that teachers are trained to look
for warning signs of tobacco and alcohol use. However, Pinkham said,
"There's usually a reprimand there." Students needed a safe place to
get help without getting in trouble, she said.

An even better technique, however, would be to prevent children from
getting into trouble in the first place, Pinkham said, noting that the
high school version of the health survey showed that many of those who
smoked or drank alcohol had their first smoke or drink in middle school.

"I think if we can delay experimentation ... kids might get to the
point where they might not try it," Pinkham said.

Barnes said that while it seemed to him that most students are
comfortable approaching adults at the school if they need help, he
hopes to enhance that atmosphere and make sure every student has an
adult to turn to by creating smaller homerooms next year.

"We always think it's important to be aware of kids who don't seem to
be connected or are isolated," Barnes said.

Earlier this school year, Pollard had to cope with one of its own
students committing suicide, and while statistics show behavior in
this area to be improving, it remains an area of concern.

Another area in which Pollard has taken initiative is nutrition. A
lunch committee met within the past two weeks and came up with a
number of recommendations, such as limiting the number of cookies a
student can purchase with or without a lunch and reducing classroom
celebrations that include food, such as doughnut or bagel parties.

Above all else, however, Barnes said, "We need to be sure the triangle
of parents, home and school is in place."

Following are selected statistics from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey
administered to eighth-graders at the Pollard Middle School.

2000 2002 2004

Felt bullied or harassed most or all of the time --- 19% 19%

Participated in physical fights 58% 48% 44%

Thought about killing themselves 18% 20% 12%

Made a plan to kill themselves 11% 14% 10%

Have tried to kill themselves 5% 6% 4%

Have tried a cigarette 27% 20% 9%

Regularly use cigarettes 9% 7% 8%

Have had alcohol 40% 37% 31%

Have used marijuana 16% 12% 9%

Have had sexual intercourse 12% 13% 9%

Used a condom during sexual intercourse -- 60%

Have participated in oral sex -- 15%

Trying to lose weight 40% 40% 39%

Vigorous physical activity 3+ days a week 83% 80% 78%