PARENTS KILL PLAN TO SURVEY FOR VALUES link From: "Bob&Barbara Tennison"
Azalea Middle School
November 7, 1994
Dear Parent:
In cooperation with Coos and Curry County Educational Service Districts, on
November 8, 1994, during first period, our school is participating in a
Student Profile Survey along with all other schools in two counties.
The purpose of this survey is to gather anonymous information about many
aspects of student's lives in order to help us make informed decisions about
curriculum offerings and action we need to take to better meet the needs of
our students, families, and the community. Without accurate information, we
can only speculate about many areas of students' lives and attitudes.
PLEASE NOTE: THE INFORMATION YOU CHILD WILL PROVIDE IN THIS SURVEY WILL BE
ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENTIAL.
The survey answer sheets will have no names attached. They will be placed by
the student in a large envelope which will be sealed in the presence of the
students. The envelopes from all classes will then be mailed to the company
in Minnesota who will do the scoring and analysis. The information will be
sorted by grade level and gender for each school and for the county. No one
in our school or county will even see the answer sheets.
We urge you to urge your child to answer each question honestly without
maximizing or minimizing any answer. It is important that each child provide
accurate information. The only way we can guarantee that we get accurate
information is to guarantee anonymity and confidentiality.
Thank you for your cooperation in this endeavor. If you have any questions
about this announcement or about the survey, please call me, Chuck Weller,
Principal, or Lola Samuelson, Counselor, at the school, or Donald Powell,
Curriculum Director at the District Office.
Chuck Weller, Principal.
#####
Note: This notice went out to the parents the night "before" the survey was
to be administered. Since it was being administered during "first" period,
parents had little or no time to preview the contents and make an informed
decision about whether they wanted their students to participate or not, did
they?
There were 152 non academic and very personal questions on the survey. None
of which were (are) the business of the public schools.
Letter #2
Brookings Harbor High School
November 10, 1994
Dear Parent:
On Monday, November 14, we will be conducting a very important study of the
needs, concerns, and attitudes of our students in grades 9 - 12. It will
involve approximately 35 minutes of each student's time within the A Block.
For the study, we are using a questionnaire called Search Institute Profiles
of Student Life. Search Institute, a nationally-known research organization
located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been conducting research on
adolescents for over 30 years. A copy of the questionnaire, as well as
information on it, is available in the office for your review.
THIS INFORMATION IS COLLECTED COMPLETELY ANONYMOUSLY, WITH NO NAMES OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING MARKS ON THE QUESTIONNAIRES. STUDENT CONFIDENTIALITY IS ASSURED.
Findings from the study will be used in many different ways -- to serve
students and better address their needs.
If you have any questions on the study, please contact Mr.. Darold Powell.
Thank you in advance for your support in allowing us to collect these data.
Sincerely,
Darold Powell
Acting Principal
I do not wish my student ___________to participate in the survey.
Parent Signature________________Date______
#####
Note: When parents in the Brookings Harbor School District saw the survey
they went in mass to the school board and demanded that all the survey's be
removed from all the schools curriculum and that the surveys be burned. This
was done, but since I have copies of the surveys from both schools it is
apparent that not ALL survey's were distroyed.
My thanks to Dom of this loop as well as Clayton and Grace for helping us
get the word out.
Barbara (BET)
Barbara (BET)
From: "Bob&Barbara Tennison"
Subject: Respond: Re Appraisal of values
Date sent: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 17:18:33 -0700
The values appraisal that Peg printed in her publication originally came
from, (guess where?), yep, Cottage Grove High School. We discovered it in
1993/94 and found that it had been around for about 10 years in our school.
Shortly after we had it removed from our curriculum it began appearing in
other schools across Oregon and the country.
The Values Appraisal comes from the "Search Institute of Minneapolis,
Minnesota and is properly titled "Search Institute Profiles of Student
Life."
Please read following posts for actual letters sent to parents.
Barbara (BET)
Subject: Re Appraisal of values
>Some one just wrote about his daughter receiving an appraisal of values
>The piece he shared appears to be going down in a number of states, as
shared
>by Peg Luksik
>
>Up Close
>
>published by National Parents Commission Peg Luksik, Editor
>
>Winter 1997
>
> Values Appraisal Scale
>
>The purpose of this activity is to let you appraise your own
>values and compare them to those of other students throughout
>the nation Number your answers in the following manner:
>
>10= definitely true
>
>7= mostly true
>
>5= undecided whether statement is true or false
>
>3=mostly false
>
>0=definitely false
>
>
>
>___1. I have a regular physical check- up by my doctor every
>year.
>
> ___ 2. I will regularly take my children to church.
>
> ___ 3. I enjoy attending musical concerts.
>
> ___ 4. It is important to me to have a lot of friends.
>
>____5. 1 donate to charities that I feel are worthwhile.
>
> ___ 6. I envy the way that movie stars are recognized wherever
>they go.
>
>____7. 1 would like to have enough money to retire at age 50.
>
>____8. I would rather spend an evening at home with my family
>than out with friends.
>
>____9. 1 enjoy making decisions which involve other people.
>
>___10. If I had the talent, I would like to write songs.
>
>____ 11. I have a close relationship with either mv' father or
>my mother.
>
>____12. I have taught a ~unday school class or have otherwise
>taken active part in my church. ____ 13. 1 am willing to spend
>tinie helping another sIuden~ who is having difficulty with
>his/her studies.
>
>___14. Even at the same salary, I would rather be the bo~s than
>just another worker.
>
>___15. 1 have a special appreciation for beautiful thii~gs.
>
>___16. If I had the talent, I would like to appear regularly on
>television.
>
>___17. 1 would like to counsel people and help them with their
>problems.
>
>___18. 1 would enjoy associating with movie stars other
>celebrities.
>
>___19. I have a regular dental check-up at least once vear.
>
>___20. I enjoy writing short stories.
>
>___21. I would rather spend a summer working to monev than to go
>on a paid vacation.
>
>___22. 1 like to attend parties.
>
>___23. 1 think that it would be fun to wflte a play fo
>television.
>
>___24. I believe in a God who answers prayers.
>
>___25. 1 prefer being an officer than just a regular member.
>
>___26. 1 would spend my last $1OO for needed dental work rather
>than for a week's paid vacation in my favorite resort.
>
>___27. I enjoy giving presents to members of my family
>
>___28. If I were a teacher, I would rather teach poetry than
>math.
>
>___29. I often have davdreams about things that I like to do if
>I had the money.
>
>___30. 1 enjov giving parties.
>
>___31. am willing to wrile letters for old or sick
>
>_____ 32. It would be verv satisfying to ad in movies television.
>
>___33. When I feel ill I usually see or call a doctor
>
>___34. I believe that tithing (giving 1/10 of one's earnings to
>the church) is one's duty to God.
>
>___35. 1 enjoy taking part in the discussion at the h~milv
>dinner table.
>
>___36. 1 enjoy visiting art museums.
>
>___37. I like to write poetry.
>
>___38. I like to be around other people most of the time.
>
>___39. When with a friend, I like to be the one who decides what
>we will do or where we will go.
>
>___40. Someday I would like to live in a large expensive house.
>
>___41. I pray to God about my problems.
>
>___42. If I knew a family that had no food for Christmas dinner,
>I would try to provide it.
>
>___43. I like to spend holidays with my family.
>
>___44. I like to see my name in print. (newspaper)
>
>___45. I would rather take a class in freehand drawini,~ than a
>class in math.
>
>___46. I do not like to spend an entire evening alone.
>
>___47. Ifthe salary were the same, I would rather be the school
>principal than a classroom teacher.
>
>___48. I have expensive tastes.
>
>___49. I can tell the difference between a really fine painting
>or drawing and an ordinarv one.
>
>___50. If I had regular headaches, I would consult a doctor even
>if aspirin seemed to lessen the pain.
>
>___51. I have several very close friends.
>
>___52. I expect to provide music lessons for my children.
>
>___53. It is important to me that grace be said before meals.
>
>___54. I sometimes miss sleep to visit with late company.
>
>___55. I usually get at least 8 hours sleep.
>
>___56. I like to design things.
>
>___57. I like to be looked up to for my accomplishments.
>
>___53. I would feel a sense of satisfaction from nursinL' a sick
>person back to health.
>
>___59. I care what my parents think about the things I do.
>
>___60. I daydream about making a lot of monQy.
>
>___61. I like to be the chairnian at meetings.
>
>___62. It is thrilling to come up with the original idea and put
>it to use.
>
>___63. I believe that there is life afier death.
>
>___64. 1 would welcome a person of another race as a neighbor.
>
>___65. If I were in the television field, I would rather be an
>actor than a script writer.
>
>___66. I enjoy decorating my room at home.
>
>___67. I enjoy a picnic with my family.
>
>___68. As an adult, I want to earn a much higher salary than the
>average worker.
>
>___69. I am careful to have a balanced diet each day.
>
>___70. I ofien influence students concerning the classe~ in
>which they enroll.
>
>___71. I would like to be written up in Who's Who.
>
>___72. I read the bible or other religious writings regularly.
>
>___73. If I were in the clothing industry, I would enjoy
>creatin',,~ new stvles.
>
>___74. I look forward to an evening out with friends.
>
>___75. When I am with a group of people, I like to he the one in
>charge.
>
>___76. I dislike being financially dependent on others.
>
>___77. When a friend is in trouble, I feel I must comfot
>him/her.
>
>___78. I love my parents.
>
>___79. I almost never skip meals.
>
>___80. I have a collection of phonograph records.
>
>___81. I have a particular friend with whom I discuss problems.
>
>___82. I believe that God created man in His own imaec.
>
>___83. I enjoy buying clothes for members ofmy familv.
>
>___84. I enjoy having people recognize me wherever I am.
>
>___85. I like planning activities for others.
>
>___86. I do not smoke.
>
>___87. I feel good when I do things which help others.
>
>___88. Someday, I would like to write a novel.
>
>___89. I would put up with undesirable working conditions in
>order to work at ajob which paid extremelv well.
>
>___90. I belong to several clubs and organizations.
>
>___91. If I ask God for forgiveness, my sins are forgiven.
>
>___92. I would enjoy having my picture in the school yearbook
>more than it has been in the past.
>
>___93. I often organize group activities.
>
>___94. When I see a newly constructed building, I see its beauty
>as well as its practical use.
>
>___95. I respect my father and my mother.
>
>___96. I like to design or make things that have not beci made
>before.
>
>___97. Some of the hobbies that I would like are quite
>expensive.
>
>___98. I enjoy classical music.
>
>___99. I would never use potentially' harmful drugs because of
>what they might do to my' body.
>
>__100. I am kind to animals. The Survey h~s d scorirg ~uide,
>called Rate Your Values.
>
>
>
>"The nurnbers of the one hundred statements that you just rated
>are listed under the appropriate values the chart below.... To
>determine your rating for each value. write the number that you
>chose for each statement on the blank next to the statement
>number. Then add the riumbers in each column to get your total
>for each value.
>
>Categories of Values were:
>
>Fame: #6, 16, 18, 32, 44, 57, 65, 71, 84, 92
>
>Money:#7 21 29, 40, 48, 60, 68, 76, 89, 97
>
>Power #9,14, 25, 39, 47, 61, 70, 75, 85, 93
>
>ReIigion: #2, 12, 42.12, 24,34, 41, 53, 63, 72, 83 91
>
>Humanitarianism:: #5, 13, 17, 31, 42, 58, 64, 77, 87, 100
>
>Family #8, 11 ,27, 35, 43, 59 ,67, 78, 83, 95
>
>Health #1 19 26, 33, 50, 55, 69, 79, 86, 99
>
>Aestetics: #3, 15. 28, 36, 49, 59, 66, 80, 94, 98
>
>Creativity: #10, 20, 23, 37, 45, 56, 62, 73, 88, 96
>
>Social Contact. #4, 22, 30, 38, 46, 51, 54, 74, 81, 90
>
> The completed Survey was found in a student's portfolio in
>Cottage Grove, Oregon, one of the pilot school districts for the
>Certificate of Initial Mastery. It has also surfaced in OBE
>districts in Connecticut, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Why
>are student values being scored and collected in permanent
>portfolios? Does career track placement depent in part on the
>values profile of the student?
>