By Patrick Tepoorten

The North Branch Area School District participated in the Minnesota Student Survey in 2007, the first time it has done so - due to some confusion regarding the test at the state level in 2004 - since 2001.

The survey asks a series of questions to sixth-, ninth-, and twelfth-grade students, and is broken down into sections dealing with feelings about school, home life, violence, health, alcohol, and drugs, and gives a look at how students in the district feel about and deal with related issues.

Regarding school, there has been some response changes since 2001. While sixth- and ninth-grade students report they "don't like school very much" or "I hate school"
has stayed relatively flat, twelfth-grade boys show an increase in the categories from roughly 20 percent in 2001 to 30 percent in 2007. However, the percentage of seniors boys wishing to go to college and then graduate school has doubled, and girls tripled, over the last six years.

Skipping school appears to be on the decline at the twelfth grade level, but on the rise for the lower grades.

Illegal behavior also appears to be on the rise, with all grades and both genders reporting in higher numbers that "gang activity" is a problem at North Branch schools. For the most part, students also report in increasing numbers that drugs and alcohol are a problem in school.

Strongly agreeing, sixth-grade reported nine percent in 2001, 28 percent in 2007. Ninth grade reported 32 percent in 2001, 39 percent in 2007. And seniors reported 30 percent in 2001, and 50 percent in 2007.

However, only seniors report a small increase in whether they were offered drugs in the last twelve months (up two percent, from 28 to 30 for boys, and up from 15 to 24 percent for girls).

Although not comparable with 2001 data (the questions weren't asked), 28 percent of ninth-grade girls and 31 percent of twelfth-grade boys reported being "touched, grabbed or pinched" in a sexual way. Also, almost 40 percent of ninth grade girls and 30 percent of senior girls reported being on the receiving end of "unwanted sexual comments, jokes, gestures, or looks." For boys, the results in this category were roughly 20 percent.

Another new category, on bullying, has roughly 30 percent of students reporting being the victim of bullying "once or twice," but, in most cases, the majority reported "never."

Regarding family life, there were increases in the number of students who felt comfortable talking with their fathers, with by far the largest increase in senior boys, who went from 59 percent in 2001, to 79 percent in 2007.

In the area of sexual abuse, only two percent of senior boys report being touched, or forced to touch, in a sexual way, down from 11 percent in 2001.

Instances of sexual violence appear to be on the rise for ninth- and twelfth-grade girls, with more than 10 percent of ninth grade girls and 16 percent of seniors reporting being "forced" to have sex or do something sexual, on a date. The increase could be accounted for in the more specific nature of the question in 2007. In 2001 the survey asked only for victims of "date rape." But both 2007 results are also slightly above the state averages of eight and 12 percent respectively.

In the category of general health, twelfth-grade girls have shown a marked increase in thoughts of, or attempts at, suicide. Thoughts of suicide, more than a year ago, went from 12 to 25 percent in four years, and is well above the state average of 16 percent. Thoughts of suicide within the last year dropped significantly for girls though it increased for boys. Twelve percent of senior girls said they had tried to commit suicide over a year ago, up from five percent in 2001. Twelve percent is also above the state average of seven percent.

A new question in 2007, 29 percent of twelfth-grade girls reported hurting themselves on purpose more than a year ago, which is above the state average of 15 percent. Only three percent reported doing so in the last year though, 10 points less than the state average.

In the area of behavior, five percent of senior boys reported carrying a gun to school at least once in the last 30 days, while four percent reported they had done so anywhere from four to six, or more, days. As well, seven percent of ninth-grade boys reported fitting into one of those categories. Both exceed the state average.

Use of any tobacco products in the last year is down for both girls and boys, but frequent use is up more than 10 percent for twelfth-grade boys. As well, binge drinking (five or more drinks, and drinking on more than 10 occasions) is up almost 10 percent for both senior boys and girls. In this category too, North Branch exceeds state averages.

45 percent of senior girls reported using both drugs and alcohol in the last year, up from 29 percent in 2001. The state average in this category is 27 percent.

Fewer senior boys reported drinking and driving three or more times in the last year, down to 11 percent from 18.

Use of other drugs, from marijuana to methamphetamine and ecstasy, continues to be very minimal in the school district, with most categories reporting in the low single digits.

In general, all grades perceive smoking a pack or two of cigarettes a day to be more of a risk than having five or more drinks once or twice a week, and smoking marijuana once or twice a week, in line with state averages.

While participating in sexual intercourse is down slightly for ninth graders, it is up roughly seven percent from 2001 among twelfth-grade students. Seven percent of twelfth-grade girls reported being pregnant at some point, up five percent.

Condom use is down by high school students, especially among senior girls. Only 19 percent of those who report engaging in intercourse (63 percent) say they regularly (always or usually) use condoms, down from 50 percent in 2001. And, 76 percent of twelfth-grade girls who say they engage in intercourse reported they did not use a condom the last time they had intercourse, up 25 percent from four years ago. Both are well above state averages. Only 41 percent of senior boys (of the 61 percent who engage in intercourse) reported not using a condom the last time they had intercourse, and 61 percent report regularly using condoms.

However, use of other types of birth control "always" by girls was up 10 percent from 2001, and is above the state average.

The school board is expected to get a review of these statistics at the Jan. 10 meeting.

Look for Rush City's student survey results in next week's edition of the Post Review.