Pride Survey Points to Positive Trend In Pearl River

Pride Surveys were first created in 1982 to measure the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs by students.

They now also  measure issues such as safety, discipline and other activities.

Pearl River Assistant Superintendent Dr. John Morgano and Director of Curriculum Sue Wheeler discussed the results of the most recent Pride Surveys in Pearl River and Rockland County at last week's board meeting. The surveys of students in fifth, eighth and tenth grade showed a decrease in the use of alcohol, but some concerns for safety among fifth graders.

Among 10th graders, the reported use of alcohol dropped from the previous survey three years ago by 16.6 percent from 46 percent to 29.4. The number also dropped in Rockland County, from 31.1 percent to 28.1 percent.

"For us in Pearl River, that has been one of the biggest obstacles," Wheeler said.

The use of tobacco and illicit drugs were also down.

The Pearl River School District has multiple programs that are designed to help keep students away from drug and alcohol abuse, including a major part of the health curriculum, but other areas such as parental support could also be a factor.

"Our whole program relative to this is based on the idea of focusing on positive decision making," Wheeler said. "Talk about prom and graduation coming up. There are all kinds of things where kids are involved in making positive decisions.

"What we see this year is a positive trend in the right direction."

Morgano said that even though the information comes from self-reporting, it has proven to be reliable over the  years.

"The questions are phrased such that if you try to (make up answers), it will catch it and reject it," Morgano said. "This is a very reliable instrument from what we know."

The survey also reflected a high number of fifth-grade students reporting that they feel unsafe in school. Pearl River is different from some districts in the area in that fifth grade is the lowest in the middle school rather than the highest in the elementary schools, so that could be a factor. That said, the district is looking to address the issue.

Part of that was a new policy on student bullying prevention and intervention, which had its first reading at the board meeting June 7. A similar policy is being instituted state-wide, but Pearl River is putting it in place earlier than many other districts. Morgano said the results of the survey help demonstrate the importance of putting the policy in place. It will help define terms, identify signs of bullying and set standard methods for dealing with it.

The policy must go through a second reading, which would be at the board meeting June 21, before the board of education can pass it.