1. Created By: Amber Boling, Bridget Boling, Caitlin Kiess
Young Adolescents Cultural Inquiry Project
Johnson County Middle School
Created By: Amber Boling, Bridget Boling, Caitlin Kiess

2. Student Survey’s
1. Who do you feel influences you the most? Is it a good influence?
“Parents, coaches, family (siblings & grandparents), and friends. (GOOD)
2. Who supports your school work while you are at home?
Parents (usually mom or dad, not both), family members. Many said no one.
3. Does anyone allow you to make your own decisions?
Family and parental supervisor, and some no’s (about ¼).
4. Have you ever been bullied or cyberbullied? How did that make you feel?
Majority said yes (mostly “hurt”, “depressed”, “sad”, “worthless”, or “self-harmful”.

3. Student Survey’s 5. Do you feel that your school is a safe place?
About 50% said no. “Teacher’s aren’t armed” and “there are a lot of fights”.
6. Do you feel comfortable enough to talk to your teachers about the problems in your life?
By far most people said no. Some said sometimes or with some teachers.
7. What type of music do you listen to?
Rap and country mainly but a little bit of everything.
8. What types of foods do you eat?
Do not eat breakfast (most skip meals)
“Whatever I want”

4. Student Survey’s 9. What is your favorite part of school? Subject?
Gym, lunches, and socializing.
PE, science (experiment), history, teachers they feel most comfortable
10. What do you like to do after school?
Watch TV, play outside, ride 4-wheel, hang out with friends, school events/sports.
11. Do you own a computer at home? What kind of websites do you use?
Most have family computers. Facebook, instagram, google, youtube.
12. What do you see yourself doing in the next 10 years?
Most said specific jobs (Motocycle company, farming, Police Officer), some said college.

5. Student Survey’s
13. Do you participate in a sport at your school or like to go to sport games?
Most do not participate in sports but do go to the games.
14. Are you in a club at your school?
Only ICE clubs (walking club, newspaper, recycling club, games, spanish, cooking, clogging, drama)
15. What kind of school activities are you involved in?
Sports, club, middle school singers, etc.
16. If there was one class that you could add to your school day, what would it be and why?
Spanish and another gym class, motorcycle building, engineering

6. Community Culture: Race
Census Findings:
White %
White alone, not hispanic or latino %
African-American - 2.2%
Asian %
American Indian and Alaska Native - 0.2%
Significance:
There is NO racial diversity (represented in school)

7. Community Culture: Gender and Language
Census Findings:
English speaking %
Non-English Speaking: 6.6%
Significance:
teachers have to be aware of the language spoken at home
Gender
Census Findings:
Female %
Male %
Significance:
Slightly throws off the balance of the school

8. Community Culture: Education and Employment
Census Findings:
Private Wage - 68%
Government - 23%
Self employed - 9%
Significance:
May affect academic expectations
May limit parent involvement
Describes culture
Education
Census Findings:
High graduate or higher %
Bachelors degree or higher %
Significance:
May affect academic expectations
Affects income
May limit parent involvement

9. Community Culture: SES/ Income
Census Findings:
Per Capita income : $16,929
Median household income : $30,063
Significance:
Can determine-
how involved parents are able to be
how focused students and parents are on school achievement

10. Community Culture: Housing and Families
Census Findings:
House ownership rate: 77.4%
Housing unit in multi-unit structure: 4.6%
Medium value of owner-occupied housing unit: 101,700
Persons per household: 2.27
Significance:

11. Community Culture: Religion and Politics
Census Findings:
Southern Baptist - 63%
Church of Christ - 13%
United Methodist Church - 8%
Other - 13%
Significance:
Reinforces values
Help make “right” decisions (developmental stage) 5
Politics
Findings: 2008 Election
Registered Voters - 10,356
Voting Turnout %
Early Voters - 731
Early votes cast %
Significance:
Low voting turnout shows community doesn’t care as much
High number of early voters shows that some people care a lot

12. Data Analysis Demographics:
limits opportunities for students to come across a large diverse population.
limit of diverse teachers could result in a lack of different teaching methods or content.
Johnson County is a low income economy
Could affect:
types and quality of teachers
high teacher turnover rate- lack of student-teacher relationships
focus on education by parents and students
involvement of parents
Education does not seem valued, especially a 4-year college

13. Data Analysis
How does the value of education shape the school lives of young adolescents?
The academic expectations are lower which cause lower achievement and less pressure to do well in school.
Value work more than education
Less parent involvement in school or by helping with homework because it is not as emphasized.
Affect income which can affect their children. Its a cycle.

14. Challenges that the School Faces
Lack of school funding based off of surrounding property taxes.
A lot of students do not try in school because education is not valued.
Lack of diversity in school and surrounding community.
Only 2 certified Middle School teachers (relating to turnover rate).
Teachers feel like they are running into a brick wall sometimes with students (homework, classwork, college, and attendance)

15. Practices and Programs that Supports Young Adolescents Needs
Clubs: Allows students to explore their interest while having a break from core subjects.
ICE: Gives opportunities to students to get needed tutoring.
Accolades: Acknowledges students success.