CANADIAN TEENS VOICE THEIR OPIONIONS ON VIOLENCE IN THEIR SCHOOLS

CANADIAN TEENS VOICE THEIR OPIONIONS ON VIOLENCE IN THEIR SCHOOLS

ONE THIRD (35%) OF CANADIAN TEENS SAY VIOLENCE HAS INCREASED IN THEIR SCHOOL OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS

BC, ALBERTA, ONTARIO AND YOUNG TEENS MOST LIKELY TO SAY SO

This Angus Reid Group poll was conducted by telephone between March 10th and April 19th, 1999 among a representative cross-section of 894 Canadian teens between 12 and 18 years of age.

These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian teenage population according to the 1996 Census data.

With a national sample of 894 one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results are within +3.3 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire teenaged Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be much larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

A national poll of teenagers conducted just prior to the Littleton and Taber high school shootings indicates that one third (35%) say there has been an increase in the amount of violence in their schools over the past five years. In terms of geography, teens living in BC where a high school student was beaten to death last year (40%), Alberta teens where the latest shooting took place (39%) and Ontario where high school violence has been met with a zero tolerance election platform plank by Conservative Party Leader Mike Harris (37%) are most likely to say that violence in their schools has been on the rise over the past five years. Further, those aged 12 to 15 (40%) and female teens (37%) are most likely to say the amount of violence in their schools has been on the rise over the past five years. Alternately, 23% of teens surveyed say violence in their school has decreased over the past five years while a plurality of 41% say there has been no change.

These are the findings from an Angus Reid Group survey of 894 teenaged Canadians conducted between March 10th and April 19th, 1999. With a national sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +3.3 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire Canadian population between the ages of 12 and 18 been polled. The margin of error will be much larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

One Third (35%) of Canadian Teens Say Violence Has Increased in their Schools Over the Past Five Years

When Canadians between the ages of 12 and 18 are asked about the amount of violence in their schools, one third (35%) say that it has increased over the past five years. Four in ten (41%) say the amount of violence in their school has stayed the same, while 23% believe it has decreased in the past five years.

• Younger teens, aged 12 to 15 (40%) are more likely than older teens (16-17, 34%; 18, 24%) to say that the amount of violence has escelated in their school over the past five years.
• Teens living in BC (40%), Alberta (39%) and Ontario (37%) appear to be more likely to say the incidence of violence in their schools has increased in recent years.

For further information, please contact:

John Wrigh
t Senior Vice-President
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900