Page 9. Chart 7
Carried a gun on School Property
30 7th graders ( now 2008, 8th graders)
15 9th graders ( now 2008, 10th graders)
15 11th graders ( now 2008 seniors)
The district has always stood behind the complete findings of the survey. The survey has been done for years and as the district says, it is just one of the tools in the educational and safety process of our students. How many parents and community members knew this result? Do they care?
The students that answered these questions, answer truthfully, according to the company that supplied the survey because the students remain anonymous. So, for those parents and community members who look at these results and scoff at the numbers, remember, like in Oakland, it only take one discharge of the gun to change everyone's lives forever. Luckily, no one was hurt in the Oakland incident.
The district and school board needs to show responsibility in addressing this issue immediately. They cannot just embrace the good findings, but they must act to deter a dangerous situation starting at the 7th grade level from progressing even farther. Yes, they may have a huge budget crisis on their hands but they also have "60" students who still may believe it's ok to bring a gun to school. I don't know if anyone at any level of our district has ever had an assembly or time in a classroom about the consequences of carrying a gun to school. I haven't heard anything to believe the district has ever addressed this issue in a public form so parents and community members are fully informed.
Chris Grant, newly elected for another term to the PUSD school board, did provide insight to his concerns about the shocking results of underage drinking of the 11th graders surveyed. It would be nice to see what his opinion is about this finding.
To newly elected PUSD school board members Hinske and Arkin; since you both ran on a platform of knowing what the parents need because of your long time residence, and your well indoctrinated volunteerism, I can only hope that you have the ability to address this as a priority issue.
To see the full results of the survey go to the PUSD website, under results of the CHKS.
