Dinwiddie School Survey Comes Up Short
The 2010 Youth Prevention Needs Assessment of six through 11th graders in Dinwiddie was presented at the last meeting of the County School Board, but the results won’t be useful.
The survey, last done five years ago, didn’t produce enough response for the data to be a true representation. It indicated fewer students were involved in drug use, sex and incidents of harassment, and there was an increase in the number who say they feel safe at school. At the same time, more students said they drink alcohol and bring weapons to school.
Holsinger: It's just a wonderful tool to use, but of the sampling we have this time is not valid because it's so small that we really can't determine whether there's a change in attitude or behavior.
Anne Holsinger is the Director of Assessment and Student Services in Dinwiddie. She said an initial mailing of 2500 surveys brought only 100 responses from parents.
Holsinger: And then we began sending letters home, we did two or three flyers, we went to schools' open house meetings, we did Parent-Teacher conference nights at the schools.
Holsinger said she’s not at all sure why the response was so weak. A new survey is going to be attempted.
John Ogle, WCVE News
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