WHAT’S BUGGING YOU? J. SUMMERLEE BINGHAMTON WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL DEALING WITH PEER PRESSURE CAN IT HELP YOU OR HURT YOU?

DEFINITION OF PEER PRESSURE (noun) social pressure by members of one's peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.

FACTS ON PEER PRESSURE: The Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base reports that right around 30% if teens are offered drugs in middle school and high school. According to the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 74.3% of high school students have tried alcohol. 3.1 million teenagers smoke, according to the American Lung Association. The Kaiser Foundation reports that about 50% of teenagers feel pressured with regard to sex in relationships.

IS ALL PEER PRESSURE BAD?  HOMEWORK?  STEALING?  STUDYING FOR TESTS?  SAVING MONEY?  BABYSITTING?  MANNERS/RESPECT?  SWEARING?  SKIPPING SCHOOL/CLASSES?

HOW DOES NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE INFLUENCE OUR COMMUNITY?  DESTROYING PROPERTY  LOWER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES  LOWER SCORES ON STATE TESTS  HIGHER DROP OUT RATES  TEENAGE PREGNANCY STEP 1 OF THE PPA DEFINE THE SOCIAL PROBLEMPPA

HOW CAN POSITIVE PEER PRESSURE INFLUENCE OUR COMMUNITY?  HIGHER TEST SCORES?  HIGHER GRADUATION RATES?  HIGHER PAID JOB OPPORTUNITIES?  SAFER SCHOOL BUILDING?

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE?  LET AN ADULT KNOW  BE ASSERTIVE  MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL  ASK FOR HELP FROM OTHER TYPES OF PEERS  MAKE A PLAN,  DESTROYING PROPERTY

POSITIVE PRESSURE POSTER YOUR JOB IS TO CREATE A POSTER THAT ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO MAKE CHOICES THAT INFLUENCE OTHERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL ACCORDING TO OUR SCHOOL RULES.

BIBLIOGRAPHY LIFE 123: PARENTING, TWEENS, PEER PRESSURE ARMSTRONG SCHOOL BBC SCHOOL REPORT – PEER PRESSURE ALMIGHTY DAD – THE ONLY CURE FOR PEER PRESSURE/CONFIDENCE