They carry beepers, prefer permanent tattoos to body piercing and are just about as likely to take lessons in shooting guns as they are to play musical instruments. Four in 10 personally know someone who is gay or lesbian, and 6 in 10 say distributing condoms in schools is a good idea. Yet, the same poll suggests, in some ways they are as wholesome and devoid of cynicism as the generation that wore saddle shoes. They trust their government, admire their parents and believe it is possible to start out poor and become rich. Ninety-four percent say they believe in God.
Strong majorities say they never drink alcohol and never smoke cigarettes or marijuana.
On sexual matters, too, they display a notable conservatism. And almost half of the same teen-agers who say they disapprove of premarital sex favor condom distribution in schools. They should have the chance to prevent herpes, AIDS and stuff. The drop may reflect an actual decrease in crime nationally, as documented by federal statistics. The survey followed a wave of shootings at schools in recent months, most notably the killing of four students and a teacher in Jonesboro, Ark., in late March.