-Caveat Lector- Poll: Teens Fear Mass Violence in School yet Report They Feel Safer October 20, 1999 Web posted at: 11:03 AM EDT (1503 GMT) NEW YORK (AP) -- Half the teen-agers in a poll out today believe a murderous rampage like the killings at Columbine High School could happen in their school. However, 45 percent in The New York Times-CBS News Poll believe increased security made their school safe. In the nationwide telephone poll of 1,038 13- to 17-year-olds, 52 percent said they feared a Columbine-style attack could strike their school, despite added security guards, cameras and other safety measures taken. Yet the poll also found that the measures made the teen-agers feel safer. Overall, 45 percent believed their school was safe or extremely safe and 42 percent characterized it as somewhat safe. "It's not that kids are in denial," James Alan Fox, a criminal justice professor at Northeastern University, told the Times. "I think they probably have a better perspective than many parents." "In the last couple of years there have been about four dozen school shootings each year," Fox said. "But there are 50 million schoolchildren, so the chances are literally one in a million" that violence will occur. The number of teen-agers who feared becoming victims of crime either at school or on the street dropped to 24 percent from 40 percent since 1994, according to the poll. There was no statistical difference between teen-agers in big cities or rural areas. The poll, which looks at how teen-agers live, also found that 46 percent of those questioned said they know someone their age who tried to commit suicide. The Times said the poll did not ask detailed questions but demographics showed that many more girls (56 percent) than boys (37 percent) knew friends who attempted suicide. Figures were also higher among white teen-agers than blacks or Hispanics. Of those who knew someone who attempted suicide, 50 percent were white, 39 percent were Hispanic and 28 percent were black. Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, author of "Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide," told the newspaper that the poll figures jibe with federal figures showing that 1 in 5 high school students had considered suicide the previous year and 1 in 10 had attempted it. She called the statistics "absolutely terrifying." The poll was conducted October 11 to October 14 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ======================= Robert F. Tatman Computer Help Desk Desktop & LAN Services Systems Department Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 215.854.2729 215.854.2788 The contents of this message represent the opinion only of the writer, and may not be construed to indicate the endorsement of Knight-Ridder, Inc.; Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc.; The Philadelphia Inquirer; or the Philadelphia Daily News. "Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity." DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
