Caledonia Argus

Surveys says youth don't feel valued

Posted: 1/30/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

Only 17 percent of Caledonia youth in grades 6 through 12 feel that the community values them.

This is according to a survey given last year to 536 students in Caledonia.*

The results alarmed community and school staff and prompted a meeting of about 30 individuals last Thursday, January 24 to brainstorm ways to change those feelings.

Results from the survey showed that not enough Caledonia area school kids are receiving the necessary skills that will make them become healthy, caring and responsible adults.

The survey was conducted by the Search Institute which has researched what factors influence why some kids have many successes in life and why others have a harder time. The institute has identified 40 assets that contribute to success; the more assets a youth has, the more successful they are in life.

Caledoniaís survey showed that area students average 16.1 assets out of the 40, which is less than the national average of 18 and down from area schools. Included are area schoolsí average assets: Spring Grove-19.7, Houston-19.5, La Crescent-Hokah-18.9.

ISD #299 was also surveyed in 1997 and averaged 17.0 assets per child.

Only three percent of the youth in last yearís survey experienced 31-40 assets, 25 percent had 21-30 assets, 48 percent had 11-20 assets and 25 percent had ten or less assets.

Also of particular concern were two other assets that received low scores from students. For example, only 17 percent feel youth are given useful roles in the community. Then, only 18 percent felt schools provide a caring, encouraging environment.

Counselors organize meeting

Judy Flaten, Elementary school counselor, is excited about the community wanting to do something to raise its kids morale. ìThis search is going to be our take-off,î she explained.

High school and elementary counselors organized last weekís meeting. Results from the survey confirm Flatenís own observations. ìI saw the need,î she said. She noted that sheís also seen many positives too.

Three Caledonia High School Students were present at the meeting to give some input.

Robyn Lampert, a senior, said adults need to consider opinions from a more diverse range of kids. ìFrom a studentís opinion, we just get overlooked. Every personís opinion should count,î she said.

Tony Felten, a senior, liked the idea of having a town meeting that involved the whole community. ìThat way they would think of what they can do to get more involved.î

Superintendent Percy Lingen asked what could they do to get students to attend these town hall meetings.

Felten suggested giving extra credit points and making each town hall meeting happen in each of their respective towns. He said a student from Brownsville would probably sit in back and not state his/her opinion because they were not from that town.

Miles Miller, former superintendent for ISD #299 said town hall meetings arenít enough. ìYou can call town meetings and I can tell you how many (people) youíll get. You need to take your message to your smaller groups. What you need is people who are committed and dedicated to going to the groups.

ISD #299 School Board member Dave Klinski said its good to work with the existing kids, but to perpetuate a program, you have to go to the source of kids, the parents. ìHow well have they been instructed?î, he said, ìIf youíre going to do this, it is long term and it will ebb and flow.î

Meeting members will meet on February 7 before a small core group will be chosen to meet and keep other members informed.

*St. Maryís Elementary school was not surveyed, while St. Johnís Elementary School was surveyed.

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