Report on 10th Graders Torpedoes Perceptions

By Debra Viadero

Even though many may believe that school violence is increasing, a federal report suggests that the percentage of 10th graders who felt unsafe in school declined from 1980 to 1990.

The report, which was released this summer by the National Center for Education Statistics, synthesizes data from two large national studies--the High School and Beyond Study and the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988. Those studies surveyed a total of 50,000 students nationwide who were sophomores in either 1980 or 1990.

The statistics on students' perceptions of their safety are not the only surprising findings in the 82-page report. It also suggests that students were more motivated to learn in 1990 than they...