SEX AND DRUGS

Data from a survey of Maury County middle school students indicates that
more than one in four eighth-graders has engaged in sexual intercourse.

The survey, taken in the spring of 2002, also shows that 11 and 19 percent
of Maury County sixth- and seventh-graders, respectively, reported past
sexual activity.

More than one-fourth of Maury County eighth-graders also reported previous
use of alcohol and nearly 40 percent indicated they have ridden in an
automobile with a drinking driver, the survey says.

The survey contains information about drug use, criminal activity and
violence, but Director of Schools Kip Reel said alcohol use and sexual
experimentation were most alarming.

"As far as the behaviors that concern me the most, obviously the negative
alcohol behaviors, the experimentation and utilization of alcohol with
children so young, and also the experimentation with sex ...," Reel said.
"I'm concerned about those two groups of behaviors, especially."

Other notable statistics in the "Risky Behaviors" category of the survey
included:

- - 14 percent of middle school students admitted to using inhalants;

- - 20 percent said they had shoplifted;

- - 17 percent reported having trouble with the police.

In the "Deficits" portion of the survey, which indicates behaviors deemed
unfavorable to learning:

- - 46 percent reported watching television or videos three or more hours per
school day;

- - 29 percent claimed to have been physically abused in the past by someone
in their family or someone living in the home;

- - 41 percent said they are alone at home more than two hours per day.

"It is good to know the specifics of where our problems lie so we can work
on them," Reel said. "It's always good to know what your needs are in a
community with some real good hard data from a scientifically accurate
survey which we believe this survey is and it is recognized so."

The data from the survey will be presented during Maury Vision 20/20
meetings next month to garner public input on what actions should be taken.

"Most of those risky behavior activities are really things that occur after
school hours," said Drug Prevention Coordinator Buddy Harlan. "The schools
have got control over what they do during the day, but we've got to have
community involvement to address things that happen after school hours."

The survey is a product of the Search Institute based in Minneapolis, and
was funded in large part by contributions from individuals and community
organizations. Other funding came from the Safe and Drug Free Schools
competitive federal grant, which established three drug prevention
coordinator positions and a supervisor of safe and drug free schools for
Maury County. About a dozen school systems in Tennessee were awarded the grant.

Harlan said the survey was open to all Maury County public school students
in the sixth, seventh and eighth grade who received written permission from
their parents, and about half, or 1,446 of them, returned their permission
slips.

In the "Assets" portion of the survey, 72 percent indicated their family
life provides high levels of love and support, having positive peer
influences and spend one or more hours per week in activities in a
religious institution.

In all three categories, Maury County students ranked higher than their
peers in grades 6-12 nationwide, who received 70 percent, 65 percent and 63
percent, respectively.

Harlan said he had expected to see a greater disparity between Maury County
scores and those of students across the country.

Variations did exist between unit schools and middle schools in some
categories. Overall, 21 percent of middle school students reported spending
three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater or
other arts. But this figure was lowered by the answers of students at
Culleoka, Hampshire and Santa Fe who responded affirmatively to this
question by 11, 9 and 8 percent, respectively.

Other notable deviations include 80 percent of Culleoka students reporting
having high levels of love and support from the family, compared to 72
percent countywide and 76 percent of students at Hampshire School said the
school provides clear rules and consequences, compared to 65 percent across
the county.