Austin High School - Comet Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Features Trend setting Maroon poll shows drinking, computers, on rise By HALLIE KLEIN 1 ho I ' HS Maroon Comet poll shows that more students have computers, weekly drinking is up but daily drinking is down, weekly use of drugs other than marijuana is up but daily use is down, and twice as many students ha e sought birth control information. In addition, a majority of SFA students plan to con- tinue their education after high school, many believe that time should not be set aside during the school day for prayer, and most are strongly in favor of arms control. Each year the Maroon Comet poll is distributed to a random sample of 107c of the SFA student body. This year, 90 polls were re- turned and tabulated, and the results show that stu- dent views on issues have basically remained the same as those in the 1984 poll, but that some lifestyle statistics have changed. For instance, the owner- ship of home computers has increased from 307c to 447c. The weekly con- sumption of alcoholic bev- erages has risen from 187c to 317c but daily consump- tion has decreased from 87c to 3%. Weekly use of drugs other than marijuana has increased from 07c to 77c but daily use has declined from 37c to 07c. The number of stu- dents who have sought birth control has risen from 87c to 167c. The 1985 poll shows that eighty-four percent of the students polled are plan- ning to continue their edu- cation after high school. Of those, 337c plan to attend The University of Texas at Austin, 117c plan to attend another four-year state col- lege, 117c plan to attend a private college, and 317c are undecided on where they will continue their education. On an education issue, 667c said that weighted grades did not encourage them to take honors courses. Fifty percent say teachers assign too much homework and 45 percent say that academic expecta- tions cause stress. Seventy-one percent of the students polled believe that time should not be set aside during school for prayer. However, 807o do believe that religious, political, or philosophical Percentage of the students who feel the amount of homework assigned by SFA teachers is too much 46% Increase in the ownership of personal computers ' ? ' ---,. 44% 28% u = • ...1 j 1983-84 1984-85 groups should have the opportunity to meet on campus during after- school hours. Forty-six percent attend church reg- ularly, 56 percent describe themselves as Christians, and 777c believe in God. The students also favor arms control. Eighty-one percent favor a verifiable nuclear freeze. In addition, 877c favor an arms control treaty with the Soviet Union. Eighty-six percent say they fear nuclear war. Ronald Reagan received good marks from 487c of the students responding, and 487c also indicated they are lifetime Austin re- sidents. The school received an A grade from 477c of the stu- dents polled and no one gave the school the grade of an F. Increase in the weekly consur alcoholic beverages nption ot BEER BEER XXX XXX 19e-l-85 c 1 you think US troops will merica in the near future? i 20

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ifii ' ' rren, English and tennis Instructor, may orbit the earth in 1986. flexibility in disciplining stu- dent because of an allowance of six days of suspension and immediate expulsion from school for possession of dnigs, alcohol, or weapons. The procedures for removing a student to an alternative education program would also be clarified. Several of the other changes would be: a reduction of paperwork for the Central Education Agency, school districts, teachers and ad- ministrators; the addition of bbrarians and non-degreed teachers to the career ladder; an increase of the age for com- pulsory attendance in public schools from 16 to 17; and the acceptance of medical ap- pointments as excused ab- sences. If passed, SB 525 would go into effect for the 1985-1986 school year. How- ever, as the legislature began its final week in late May, it seemed unliklv that he bill. which had passed the Senate, would be approve by the House. Even if itwas, indica- tions were that Gov. Mark White might veto it. Editor ' s note: F inally , a glim- mer of hope. Toward the end of my high school experience, I saiv education become more and more strictly defined as the national pendulum moved closer to the conservative side. I hated the thought of leaving the public school system to all of those un- derclassmen, especially my younger brothers, who would have to either fight or accept the perilous changes in educational reforms. In all my prayers, I hope more adults in legislative author- ity, would, like Senator Parker, realize the danger in their educa- tional change game before people in school are required to carry their own rechargable battery in order to live in the system or in the extreme, before all the teachers resign and all the students drop out. Warren : the right stuff to enter space B, • Ihocnd of the school ear overyone knew that Ln- glish teacher and boys tennis coach, Steve Warren was also an U.S. Navy Pilot, and that he expected the most from both his students, as stated in the Austin-American States- man. This summer Warren may recieve notice of an Honor that would give a chance to go higher in the sky than even he has gone before, or the possibility of becoming the first ordinary person to orbit the earth as a member of a Space Shuttle crew early in 1986. Texas candidates for NASA ' s Teacher in Space were annonced April 18 by Dr. William Kirby, the Com- misioner of Education. The only other teacher nominated from Texas ' 420 applicants was Peggy Lathlaen of Friendswood Independent School District who teaches grades three through five. Warren still had to survive several more cuts before a winner is chosen to travel into the final frontier . I didn ' t even think about it, Warren said about apply- ing for the honor. The minute I heard I called the White House. I was watching the news when I heard Reagan make the announcement. Then I called Washington and they gave me an address to send for an application. A peculiar thing about Texas applicants was that there were only 420 of them in comparsison to the 10,000 nationally. Warren thought he knew a couple reasons why The application re- quired six essays, three letters of recomendation and a pro- ject. You also had to pass cer- tain medical requirements and be willing to undergo a secret background which in- volves the FBI asking people you know, such as neighbors, questions. The investigation is supposed to prove that you ' re not a communist, Nazi or somthing crazy like that. The person chosen in the final nomination will get a year ' s leave of absense with liftoff scheduled for January 22, 1986. Then, after the teacher chosen has been in space, he will go on a tour of schools throughout the U.S.. With this possibility Warren verifies that, the agreement I made with Ms. McGee was that if I won I would get a year of leave so that I ' m able to come back. My tennis team ' s too good. I couldn ' t leave that. As for his chances, Warren feels that they are, as good as anybody else ' s. It ' s one out of one hundred and twenty right now. I hope they will look at my military back- ground favorably. Warren always excelled at Austin High. As a tennis coach, his team never finished lower than first place in dis- trict. As an English teacher, he taught the most talented freshman students, and with great success inspired them to be the best they possibly can be. As a person Warren is in- telligent, he is physically at his peak, and has an attitude to succeed as well as to teach. The only challenge he now had to face was whether or not the National Review Panel felt he has the right stuff to be the first teacher in space. m-i

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1985 COMET MAROON POLL 1. What is your age? 12. Is the amount of homework Moslem 2°o 31. Do you favor an arms con- 13 0% assigned by SFA teachers Buddhist 3% trol treaty with the Soviet 14 11% Way too much 4°o Athiest 1% Union? 15 30% Too much 46°o Other 13% Yes 87 16 22% All right 0% No 2 ' .. 17 17% Too little 25% 22. How many years have you 18 17% Way too little 0% lived In Austin? 32. Do you think US troops will 19 1% All of my life 48% be sent to fight in Central 13. How stressful is your life? More than 10 years 23% America in the near future? 2. What Is your sex? Extremely stressful 6°o 5-10 years 11% Yes 65% Male 44% Very stressful 21% 2-5 years 8% No 27% Female 56% Stressful 22% Somewhat stressful 36% Less than 2 years 6°o 3. What Is your grade? 9 10 11 12 4. What Is your race? 26% 30% 18% 23% Not at all stressful 13% 14. What causes your stress? Academic expectations 45% Extracurricular activities 5% Non-school activities 2% Personal life 26% 23. If an election were held today, who would you vote for mayor? Ron Mullen 42% Frank Cooksey 21% Max Nofziger 21% Undecided 14% 33. What is your primary source for news? Newspaper 35% Radio 51 % Television I0°o Newsmagazine 3°o White 71% Other 14% 34. How often do you smoke Mexican-American 15% Job 1% marijuana? Never 67% Monthly 10% Weekly 7% Black 6% 24. Do you favor moving Robert Asian 1% 15. What is the most Important Mueller municipal airport? Other 5% priority In your life? Yes 44% Having a family 14% No 48% 5. Does your family own a per- Becoming successful 26% sonal computer? Becoming financially well off 16% 25. Do yo u favor single member 35. How frequently do you con- Yes 44% Becoming well educated 16% districts for the city council? sume alcoholic beverages? No 56% 6. Do you have a part time job? Becoming a productive citizen 6% Religious life 1% Other 16% Yes 37% No 46% Never 40°o Monthly 26°o Weekly 31% Daily 3% Yes 30% 26. Who would you vote for if No 70% 16. Do you know what career the 1988 presidential election 7. How many hours per week do you work? More than 30 hours 5% you would like to pursue as an adult? 1 am certain of which career to pur- sue 17% were held today? George Bush 33% Gary Hart 10% Elizabeth Dole 4% 36. How frequently do you use drugs other than marijuana? Never 86% 15-30 hours 15% 1 have a good idea of what career Geraldine Ferraro 7% Monthly 6% 5-14 hours 8% field 1 would like to pursue 29% Howard Baker 0% Weekly 7% Less than 5 hours 2% 1 am interested in several different Edward Kennedy 7% Daily 0°o Not employed 68% career fields 33% Jack Kemp 1% 1 have no idea what career to pur- Mario Cuomo 3% 37. How often do you get drunk? 8. Who do you live with? sue 16% Jesse Jackson 5% One parent 40% Other 11% Never 53% Monthly 27% Weekly 18% Daily 1% Both parents 58% 17. Do you think that a time Relative 0% should be set aside during the 27. Which political party do you Guardian 2% school day for prayer? associate with? By yourself 0% Yes 26% Democratic 40% 9. Do you plan to continue your education after high school? Yes 84% No 71% 18. Do you believe that religious, political or philosophical Republican 37% Neither (independent) 21% Other 0% 38. Have you ever sought birth control information from an agency such as Planned Parent- hood? i No 5% groups should have the oppor- 28. How would you rate Ronald j Undecided 11% tunity to meet on campus during Reagan as president? Yes 16°o after-school hours? Oustanding 8% Very good 14% Good 26% No 83% 10. If you answered YES to Yes 80% question 9, which do you plan No 20% 39. Does the size of the federal to attend? Average 20% budget deficit concern you? The University of Texas 33% 19. Do you believe In God? Not good 13% Yes 63° o Other state four year college 11% Yes 77% Poor 16% No 33% Private four year college 11% Not Sure 11% Junior college Trade school Community college 6% 0% 2% No 7% 20. Do you attend a church or 29. How much do you fear a nu- clear war? 40. What quality do you admire most in a teacher? j Other 3% synagogue regularly? Not at all 13% 1. understanding Undecided 31% Yes 46% Some 20% 2 teaching skills No 53% A lot 51% 3, interesting 11. Have weighted grades en- Very much 15°o 4, respect for students couraged you to take more hon- 21. With what religion do you as- 5, understandable sense of humor ors courses than you wou d take sociate yourself? 30. Do you favor a mutual, veri- 6. originality of teaching method otherwise? Protestant Christian 32% fiable nuclear freeze? fairness Yes 34°o Catholic Chnstian 24% Yes 81% friendliness No 66% Jewish 3% No 16% patience 1 -. fe