Published July 1988 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Results of the 1988 Student Survey In recent years, I have conducted an annual Student Survey among West Virginia high school students, to learn which issues and concerns are uppermost on the minds of our young people. The results of the 1988 survey are in and tabulated, with interesting responses. In answer to my inquiry concerning the "most important issue facing Congress this year," 20 percent of the respondents pinpointed the federal deficit. Improving America's educational system was the second most frequently mentioned concern with 19 percent. The third-place concern was providing for America's homeless (16 percent), while limiting the buildup of nuclear weapons came in fourth place with 14 percent. In fifth place came maintaining a strong national defense (12 percent); followed by combatting illegal drug use (10 percent); improving the balance of trade with foreign countries, in seventh position (5 percent); and stepping up the war on crime, in eighth place (3 percent). On each of these issues, Congress is currently working or is involved in looking for solutions. I commend the student respondents on their grasp of these questions. Another question included in the survey asked the students to rank in priority the targets toward which limited federal dollars should be aimed. To this question, the students ranked education first (40 percent), health research second (19 percent), followed by national defense (17 percent), public works projects (10 percent), fighting drug abuse (6 percent), and job training (5 percent). Energy research (2 percent) and transportation (1 percent) came in seventh and eighth. The students demonstrated their West Virginia pride and awareness by listing our state's beauty as the primary asset of living in West Virginia (67 percent). Other assets of living in West Virginia were its wildlife (28 percent), low crime rate (17 percent), and friendly people (12 percent). Among a variety of added items in this category were small town life (10 percent), family in the state (6 percent), and low cost of living/low population (4 percent). This year's surveyed students gave the perceptive, thoughtful replies that I have come to expect from West Virginia students, and I thank all of those who participated in the 1988 Student Survey for sharing their ideas and opinions with me. July 27, 1988