Skowhegan to survey its students

Kennebec Journal, April 13, 2007

(excerpt) Waging a battle against teen crime begins with understanding the needs of the kids themselves, according to a steering committee formed to address the issue.

With that focus in mind, the committee has planned an anonymous survey of students in grades 6, 8, and 11 to help determine the strengths the town's young people need to have in order to thrive, said chairman Peter G. Drever Jr. of Norridgewock.

The survey is just the beginning of a planned response to a spike in teen crime in the Skowhegan area last fall, which included daytime armed robberies, vandalism of municipal equipment and acid bombs detonated in a local Wal-Mart. The committee is an outgrowth of a Jan. 13 forum.

at the Readiness Center, where nearly 300 people turned out to search for solutions to teen crime.

Drever, a Lutheran pastor trained in psychology, said the survey is the first step in a long process and will provide the committee with an in-depth analysis of teens and their views of the future.

The survey is being conducted through Minnesota-based Search Institute, a nonprofit organization committed to helping create healthy communities for young people, Drever said. Funding for the survey was obtained through grants and the work of several area agencies.

Drever said the survey asks teens for a view of their life of life through their family, community, education and values. With those responses, Search Institute identifies where the community and teens stand in regard to meeting 40 elements of healthy development.