Central Valley District Students Find Respect Makes A Difference

Thu., March 30, 2000

By Marny Lombard marnyl@spokesman.com (509) 927-2166

The emphasis on respect is making a difference in Central Valley schools.

That was the conclusion from this year’s survey of students on the climate of their schools.

Each year, more fourth- to sixth-graders have agreed that students in their schools respect each other. The same is true of students in seventh through 11th grades. These students also agreed, in greater numbers than ever, that neither put-downs nor harassment is a big problem at their schools.

Respect has been a dominant theme in Central Valley schools since 1995.

“If you’re hearing it year after year, it really starts to take hold,” said Geoff Praeger, summarizing the results of the survey at Monday’s meeting of the Central Valley School Board.

At least one sixth-grader says that the focus on respect has helped some kids actually think about their own behavior.

Joe Felix, a Greenacres Elementary School student, says he sees students making the connection between acting with respect and gaining respect from others.

“They’re more friendly. They give compliments more,” Felix says. At his school, the respect campaign includes monthly respect awards. Greenacres Principal Jim Berry said the awards are new this year.

“I think the magic is in the notion that once a month, we stop everything and focus on respect,” Berry said.

While the trends are encouraging, the actual numbers are a mix of good and bad news.

Although the numbers have climbed steadily, only 40 percent of fourth- through sixth-graders found respectful behavior among their peers. An equal number said that kids picking on other kids is a problem at their school. Markedly fewer, just 17 percent, said kids are picked on because of their race or culture.

Among secondary students, just 24 percent see respectful behavior among their peers. Half those surveyed said put-downs are a problem.

Generally, secondary students reported that they feel safe at their schools. Fewer students than ever, just 14 percent, reported that knives or other weapons are a problem at their school.

A record 80 percent of secondary students said that if they saw a student with a gun at school, they would report it.

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