Chuck's+comments

**//Comments from Chuck Morrison//**

The survey: has several glaring faults. First, we have never had a non-participation rate of 18% yet the survey has found 18% of recipients who have never taken the program. Hence the whole sample is in question. Additionally, why would their responses be included? Since they never took to program, we can assume they are against it in principle, therefore they probably represent the most negative 18% (1/5th of the respondents). And the sample is pretty small. With the non-participants excluded (as they should be), we have a completion rate of N=80 which is not a large number if w are trying to represent the entire high school population in Portland Public Schools which must be in excess of a couple thousand, and don't know even how this sample was arrived at. It would also be useful to know the gender break as females tend to be somewhat more supportive of the program than males, with most all students (who ever took it) supportive (some males don't like to hear our message about responsibility re: child support payments, sexual access etc.). Deering High Students put together an excellent survey of 100% of their student body years ago that thy published in "Ramblings" with Dr. William Doughty's assistance, whose data would be far more useful (I can probably dig out a copy somewhere). and why are we surveying students (11th and 12th graders who are most removed form the program?) no 9th grades and one 10th grader?

Pregnancy statistics for Portland (since we appear to be looking at them) : We have long been concerned about these statistics. Portland has many services to attract and support expecting teens. If these statistics are based on a demographic question like "Where are you living" Portland may have inflated statistics. A better and more revealing question would be " Where were you living when you got pregnant?" or "Have you ever taken the Family Living Program in Portland Schools?" Dr. Hunt might be able to inform us about how these stats are taken and kept.

I clearly want Margaret's position preserved, it is the right and smart thing to do. Since we get into 15 or so schools each year, someone needs to be left to remember how to do this.

I am concerned by the presumed usurpation of the leadership of the Parent's Advisory Board by Central Office. As our advocacy has historically encountered opposition from Central Office, the School Committee and conservative parents. without the quasi-autonomous nature of the present board, many, if not all, of our innovations might never come to fruition.

The most difficult insertion points for the curriculum will be elementary school as here are neither health teachers or a health curriculum at this level. Middle school health staff may be the best positioned to take on our curriculum, but some of their stuff will have to go, and if we are to preserve in some way a male female team, thought should be given as to how we do that.