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Parents upset about student health survey

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — Some of the questions on the Georgia Student Health Survey have angered parents in Cherokee County.

The anonymous survey, designed to collect information about a variety of topics, including alcohol, tobacco, and nutrition, was given to sixth- to twelfth-grade students.

Channel 2's Berndt Petersen spoke to the mother of an 11-year-old who says the questions are inappropriate for her son.
Ashley Altman says there are some things her son, Ray, a Mill Creek Middle School student, should not be exposed to, even if it's in the name of education.
"This is not acceptable for smaller children; especially my child who is in sixth grade, who just turned 12," said Altman.
She takes issue with a question on page 9: "When was the last time you smoked meth?"

Survey question examples:

  • Do you think marijuana is harmful?
  • What age did you start using alcohol, cocaine, steroids, ecstasy, etc.?
  • Have you used alcohol in the past 30 days?
  • Have you participated in illegal gang activities in the past 30 days?
  • Have you been bullied in the past 30 days?
Altman says questions about illegal drugs or HIV should be left off for middle schoolers. She says she talked to other parents who believe younger children should not participate in the survey.
The state Board of Education was closed Tuesday due to the holiday, but the spokesperson insists there have never been any complaints.

"If they go digging around to find out what meth is and find it in the wrong area, and their parents have not properly educated them on the topic, who is to say they'll be peer pressured into actually doing that particular drug?" Altman said.

Petersen says the Cherokee County Board of Education said parents get a heads up about the survey and can opt out. That's what Altman did for her son, but she says some of her friends were never informed that they could opt out.

WSBTV

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