The policy research project on the responsible use of
the Internet hosted Texas high school students enrolled
in Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL) programs.
The February meeting included an overview of the
Internet, round-robin discussions of favorite web sites,
and working group discussions on policy issues. LBJ
School student Wendy Lathan and project director Gary
Chapman are shown with PAL partner Toby Tull, a senior
from China Springs High School in Waco.

photo by María de la Luz Martínez

Civic Education and School Violence Prevention
Aided by a grant from the Center for Civic Education (CCE), Professor Kenneth Tolo put together a policy research project to work with the center in evaluating the implementation of a nationwide demonstration program aimed at curbing violence in public schools. Funded by the U.S. Congress and administered by the CCE, the program is using civic education curricula in selected middle schools as a means of reducing school violence. Tolo's policy research project has sent research teams to each of seven school districts in cities around the nation (including New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Denver) to conduct this assessment.

"I have been working with the Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado (where Columbine High School is located), so I have had a chance to talk to people who have been directly affected by school violence and to hear the multiple viewpoints about what should be done about it," said Elizabeth Witt, a second-year LBJ School student and a member of Tolo's PRP.

"Also, it has been really interesting to see what kinds of problems programs have, even really well-intentioned programs, when they are getting off the ground."

This year's project is an outgrowth of two earlier PRPs on civic education in public schools, also funded by the CCE. The studies have been spurred by a renewed interest in the relationship between student behavior and their exposure to civic dispositions, participation, and knowledge. Results of the current project will be published this summer and distributed by the CCE to school administrators and teachers in the demonstration program.

Ethnic Relations in the City of Austin
Professor Richard Schott is using his policy research project to look at relationships between ethnic communities in Austin--Anglos, Asians, African Americans, and Hispanics--as well as perceptions of racism and discrimination in local institutions like public schools and city government offices. The study, funded by the Austin City Manager's Office, comes five years after an episode in which the Austin Police Department was accused of using excessive force to break up a party attended mostly by minority teenagers.

Participating students have interviewed more than 40 leaders in Austin's minority communities, and they commissioned a survey of Austin residents, conducted in February by UT's Office of Survey Research.

"Basically, we are trying to facilitate dialogue on racism and discrimination in the city," said Dinah Sbelgio, a second-year LBJ School student and one of the project's report editors. "We have been amazed at how much people want to talk about this issue, and have their voices heard. Everyone in the PRP is passionate about this topic and it has been amazing to see how hard everyone has been working to conduct all our research."

Preliminary results of the poll and interviews indicated that the perceived quality of race relations in Austin is poor to fair. Black respondents reported the highest level of personal discrimination, followed by Hispanics, Asians, and Anglos. The project will present its final results in June to Austin City Manager Jesus Garza.

Responsible Use of the Internet
In a PRP led by Gary Chapman, LBJ School students have worked to develop a peer-based curriculum for young people on how to use the Internet responsibly. In late February, 13 high school students came from around Texas to attend a three-day workshop that brought them together with students in the PRP. By LBJ School accounts, the meeting was a complete success.

"One of the comments made by a high school participant was that it was the first time they felt adults had actually solicited their input and then really listened to what teens had to say," said Neal Jodeit, a first-year LBJ School student and PRP participant. "I think all of the graduate students were impressed and energized by their high school partners on the project. We're even getting questions about when we're going to meet again."

Jodeit said discussion topics ranged from Internet accessibility to on-line "netiquette," as well as more serious issues such as safety, freedom of expression, copyright laws, and computer hacking and viruses.

The project is a joint program with Peer Assistance Network of America, Inc., an Austin-based nonprofit organization promoting youth empowerment. Funding was provided by the RGK Foundation. The goal of the project is to produce a web site that provides a comprehensive guide to responsible use of the Internet for students and their parents and teachers.

Comments to lbjwmast@uts.cc.utexas.edu