RISKY YOUTH BEHAVIOUR CONCERN FOR PRINCIPALS

Otago Statistics Show Alcohol, Drugs and Car Dangers

About 90% of Otago secondary-school pupils questioned in a youth
health survey have tried alcohol and nearly half have tried marijuana.

Preliminary results of the data collected from seven Otago schools
showed many pupils were healthy and happy.

However, significant numbers were participating in "at risk"
behaviour, including binge drinking, regular marijuana use and riding
in cars with drunk drivers.

The data was gathered in a national secondary-school youth health
survey completed in 2000 by the Adolescent Health Research Group.

Kavanagh College principal Paul Ferris said the implications of the
risk statistics were horrendous, especially those involving dangerous
behaviour around alcohol, drugs and cars, including only 58% of boys
and 69% of girls always wearing a seat belt.

"It is that bullet-proof nature of teenagers. By not wearing a seat
belt there is a high chance of a tragic accident occurring."

He believed parents needed to be more aware of their children's
behaviour with alcohol and drugs.

"Parents need to take more of a participatory role in the activities
of young people and what is safe and is not safe."

There needed to be a safe way for pupils to report unsafe behaviour to
law enforcement agencies without fear of consequences, he said.

"They need to be in a position to disclose without consequences. And
at home, as well, they need to be able to talk honestly to their parents."

Mental health statistics that revealed 20% of males and 30% of females
had thoughts of suicide showed schools could never be complacent about
youth suicide, he said.

Queens High School principal Liz Welch said the numbers involved in
dangerous vehicle behaviour were alarming.

"I think we had begun to think young people were being assertive and
careful about their safety in cars but we may have to remind them again."

Statistics also showed 8% of males and 15% of females felt they were
under a lot of pressure.

"It is a concern that a proportion aren't feeling on top of things,"
Ms Welch said.

Also of concern was that only 42% of boys and 49% of girls usually
tried hard at school.

"We need to look very seriously at supporting learning to make sure
students have a feeling of accomplishment."

Otago Girls principal Jan Anderson said she was heartened by
statistics showing the majority of pupils were safe and happy, and
believed only a minority were participating in risky behaviour.

Nearly all thought their parents cared a lot and 63% of males and 57%
of girls believed they had enough time with parents.

Eighty percent of girls and boys always felt safe at school, 85% of
boys and 86% of girls felt teachers were usually fair.

Figures showing 32% of boys and 34% of girls had been bullied at
school that year had to be taken in context, she said. Otago schools
had led the way in safety programmes meaning pupils were
hypersensitive to what constituted bullying.

"Any uncomfortable exchanges are being classed as bullying," she
said.

She was alarmed by the binge drinking statistics and was concerned by
the casual sexual activity of some pupils.

"It is only 20% that are taking risks but it is a concern and anyone
taking part in that activity is one too many."