Where We Are Now: 12 Things You Need to Know about Public Opinion and Public Schools

Public Agenda ^ | April 23, 2003 | Jean Johnson and Ann Duffett

[Remedy]

Survey Analysis Shows that Unruly Students, Demoralized Teachers, Uninvolved Parents, Bureaucracy Edge Out Standards as Top Concerns

New analysis of a decade of research by Public Agenda reveals sobering views from parents, teachers, students, principals, employers, college professors

New York—With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, the standards movement is in full sway in American schools, and support for higher standards and accountability remains solid among teachers, parents and students. But beneath the surface, teachers are discouraged, administrators are besieged by politics and many teachers and students worry about an unruly, disrespectful and sometimes violent atmosphere in American high schools.

These and other findings are part of a major multiyear review of Americans’ views on schools conducted by Public Agenda, a nonpartisan, nonprofit opinion research and policy organization.

Where We Are Now: 12 Things You Need to Know about Public Opinion and Public Schools, provides never-before available analysis drawn from more than 25 major opinion studies on where major stakeholders in education--parents, students, teachers, school leaders, employers and college professors--stand on a wide range of critical issues.

Where We Are Now is funded by Washington Mutual, the nation’s sixth-largest financial services company. "The report reveals a strong commitment by those involved in our schools to ensuring that children acquire the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced world," said Washington Mutual Chairman, President and CEO Kerry K. Killinger.

Public Agenda’s President Deborah Wadsworth noted that, "The standards movement has taken hold in American schools and continues to enjoy broad support. But there are some troublesome fault lines. Teachers in particular seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place. They believe in higher standards but often feel they can’t count on students to make the effort or parents and administrators to back them up. Meanwhile, employers and professors still have major complaints about youngsters’ writing and basic math skills."

Standards Yes…But

Where We Are Now finds that strong majorities of parents (85%), teachers (75%), employers (79%) and professors (79%) say students work harder if they know they will be tested. Large majorities—at least 8 in 10—also say that knowing what is expected improves students’ academic performance. Similarly large majorities also believe students should pass a standardized test to be promoted.

The review finds virtually no nostalgia among teachers or others for returning to the pre-standards policies of the past (2% or less for all adult groups). Nearly all students (92%) say they take tests seriously, and only a handful (5%) feels overwhelmed by the pressure.

But nearly half of teachers (48%) say some in their schools get diplomas even though they don’t have the needed skills. More than 4 in 10 teachers say they themselves have promoted students who should have been held back.

Teachers also are uncomfortable being judged on how well their students perform on standardized tests, and most reject the idea of tying teachers’ salaries to students’ scores (76%). Still, while most teachers say schools today place far too much emphasis on standardized test scores (84%), they also acknowledge that testing can be useful.

Low Work Ethic, Unruly Behavior

An overwhelming majority of teachers (81%) take parents to task for not making sure their children study hard and behave well. Parents acknowledge they could do better, with just half (50%) claiming they are successful in getting their own children to do their best in school. And majorities of high school teachers (82%), students (70%) and parents (56%) concede that disrespectful student behavior is common.

Where We Are Now reveals that more than 4 in 10 teachers say that in their schools, teachers spend more time trying to keep order in the classroom than actually teaching. High school students themselves are concerned about school violence—sizeable numbers report that serious fights happen somewhat regularly (40%) and that there is a serious problem with bullying (32%). Majorities also report that their schools have too much cursing (77%), too many people in the hallways (64%) and too many students who abuse drugs or alcohol (62%). Only about a third say students in their own high school treat each other with respect, and only about 1 in 5 say teachers are treated respectfully by students.

Parents vs. Employers and Professors--Are We Talking about the Same Schools?

A large majority of parents (73%) gives their local schools positive ratings and most believe that academic expectations are "about right" (67%).

But those who either hire or teach public school graduates are less satisfied. Most employers and college professors continue to express "profound dissatisfaction" with specific skills of the public school graduates they encounter. Majorities are especially critical of youngsters’ grammar and spelling, their ability to write clearly and their capacity to do simple math. Still, both groups are somewhat more likely than they were five years ago to give their local public schools positive ratings.

Administration, Accountability--and Frustration

According to Public Agenda’s analysis, it’s not standards and accountability that make superintendents and principals tear their hair out. Red tape and lack of autonomy plague administrators. More than 8 in 10 complain about keeping up with government mandates, and for superintendents especially, sizeable numbers say they spend too much time dealing with litigation (50%), complaining parents (48%) and union issues (43%).

Most administrators say they want more freedom to make decisions, especially when it comes to rewarding outstanding teachers (76% of superintendents and 67% of principals)—and removing ineffective ones (72% and 67%, respectively). Only 5% of superintendents say their talented colleagues are most likely to leave education because of low pay and prestige, but 81% say it would be because of politics and bureaucracy.

Where We Are Now: The Findings

12 Things You Need to Know about Public Opinion and Public Schools

• The public—including parents, teachers and students—believes that setting standards and enforcing them promotes learning. Social promotion, they say, harms kids.
• Standards and promotion policies have changed in recent years, and attitudes about local schools have improved. Even so, many students still move ahead without acquiring needed skills.
• The vast majority of parents and teachers say standardized tests are useful, and few students are overly anxious about them. But people also think tests can be misused, and many say there’s too much emphasis on them.
• While teachers support high academic standards, they have qualms about some aspects of testing.
• Teachers are troubled by lack of parental support and poor student behavior. Teachers also say their views are generally ignored by decision makers.
• Americans say all students need the basics, and parents want their own children prepared for college. For most, a college diploma is as indispensable as a high school diploma used to be.
• There is a dramatic gap between the way employers and college professors rate high school graduates and the way parents and teachers view them.
• The vast majority of employers and professors continue to have serious doubts about public school graduates’ basic skills—especially when it comes to writing.
• Teachers say lack of parental involvement is a serious problem. According to both teachers and parents, parental involvement should focus on what goes on at home rather than on school management issues.
• Teachers, parents and students continue to voice concern about the rough-edged, uncivil atmosphere in many high schools. Few see high schools as places of respect or civility.
• Superintendents and principals say their biggest problems are politics and bureaucracy. Most want more autonomy over their own schools.
• Holding schools and educators directly accountable for student achievement is still uncommon. Teachers and principals have doubts about it, while parents and the public tend to support it.

  Where We Are Now draws upon findings from more than two dozen national public opinion studies conducted by Public Agenda and others over the past decade. All surveys reported in Where We Are Now are based on nationally representative random samples of respondents. Sample size, interview length, method and field period vary depending on the research goals for each particular study. Complete question wording, full responses and sample size for each finding cited in this report can be found in the Complete Survey Findings for Where We Are Now at www.publicagenda.org.
  
  

[Remedy]

• Volume 10 Number 26 Bauman: Home Schooling in the United States
• Our Mission--Build a Constituency for Separation / Tactics By "Separation," we mean the elimination of local, state, national, and international governments from all aspects of education, including financing, determining curriculum, specifying outcomes, compelling attendance, credentialling teachers, and the accrediting and operating of schools.

• ED : Respect Life Curriculum Guidelines Primarily to advance the common sense logic that if we want to create a culture of life we should properly educate our children-- starting when they are very young, about the sanctity of life. These Guidelines are an authoritative work and should be faithfully implemented.

[Remedy]

sitrep survey

[ffusco]

Education ought to focus on introducing students to the canon of western thought (the core ideas, concepts, people and events) + art, science and civics. The purpose of public education is to make good citizens.

[dark_lord]

Since when? Everyone knows the purpose of public education is to make obedient slaves.

[DPB101]

analysis drawn from more than 25 major opinion studies on where major stakeholders in education--parents, students, teachers, school leaders, employers and college professors--stand on a wide range of critical issues.

Only "stakeholders" are parents, students and taxpayers. Teachers are employees--a fact most of them forget. Consulting them is fine. Having them decide what should be done is a conflict of interest on their part.

[ffusco]

Oh, cynical dark_lord,
Are not good citzens obedient slaves to our republic?

All real learning is personal and based on personal inquiry, To the weak- let them be slaves.

[PLK]

Majorities are especially critical of youngsters’ grammar and spelling, their ability to write clearly

I teach at the graduate level. Grading papers is excruciatingly painful because the writing is so poor. Students are unable to construct a complete sentence, put together a decent paragraph, use correct grammar and punctuation, or cite references properly.

My middle school daughter spends a full hour every day in a class called Guidance. It consists of such academically important topics as: career selection, health & fitness, conflict resolution, family life, etc. Imagine if that time was spent on grammar and writing.

[DannyTN]

Nobody likes to be held accountable. Principals and Teachers included. Everyone wants more authority to do things their own way.

Get over it!!!! All your test scores are belong to us!!!

They should put up security cameras in schools. Knowing that you are going to be recorded and the truth found out would stop a lot of the violence.

[freemama]

Please do not take this as a jab - it isn't meant as one. I have a question. If you are sure your daughter is wasting an hour a day in this class why are you not trying to get that requirement changed? Also, why are you allowing her to attend a school that does this?

What I am trying to get at is what is the mindset of a parent that doesn't take action when they see a problem like this? I think this is the crux of the problem in the schools. For some reason, parents do not take control of the educational process. (Once again, I am not blaming you. Just looking for information.) If we can understand why, we might be able to remedy the problem.

[secret garden]

They renamed that class "Life Skills" here because it did not provide any true guidance. How long will it take them to realize they are not teaching any life skills either? Your guess is as good as mine(never).

[Eustace]

"Where are we now?" We are trapped in the never ending story of not learning from history , because the people who don't want us to know history control our educational institutions and churches.

We are presently suffering from the beginning ( 20 years ) of dumbing down America.Just imagine what America will be like in another 20 years , that's if we make it through the next 2-3 years.

Thomas Jefferson said : The Central Bank is an institution of the most deadly hostility existing against the principles and form of our Constitution. I am an enemy to all banks , discounting bills or notes for anything but coin. If the American people allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency , first by inflation and then by deflation , the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

Also by Thomas Jefferson : " Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day. But a series of oppressions , begun at a distinguished period and persued unalterably through every change of ministers ( administrations ) , too plainly proves a deliberate systematic plan of reducing us to slavery."

Lincoln said : " The money power preys upon the nation in times of peace and conspires against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than monarchy , more insolent than autocracy , more selfish than bureaucracy. It denounces , as public enemies , all who question its methods or throw light upon its crimes."

Hitler said : "Tell a lie long enough and people will believe it."

Hermann Goering said : "Why of course the people don't want war ... Voice or no voice , the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked , and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." Afghanistan/ Iraq , terrorism is the new "ISM" to be used to STEAL more of our FREEDOM ( if we allow it )

Stalin said : America will be taken down with a war of concessions. Not sure of exact quote.

Lenin said : "Give me four years to teach the children and I will have planted a seed that can't be uprooted."

James Paul Warburg ( son of Paul Moritz Warburg , chief architect of the federal reserve act ) , boasted confidently on February 17 , 1950 before the U S Senate : " We shall have World government whether or not we like it. The only question is whether World government will be achieved by conquest or consent."

Henry Kissinger said at a Bilderberger meeting : " Today Americans would be outraged if UN forces entered Los Angeles to restore order. Tomorrow , they will be grateful."

Norman Thomas , U S socialist party presidential candidate said : " The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But , under the name of liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program , until one day America will be a socialist nation , without knowing how it happened."

On February 1 , 1992 President George Herbert Walker Bush stated ; " My vision of a New World Order forsees a U N with a revitalized peacekeeping function. It is the sacred principles enshrined in the U N charter to which we henceforth pledge our allegiance."

Hillary said "It takes a village to raise a child."

Ten Planks of Communism

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.NATIONAL PARKS

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax. FEDERAL RESERVE

3. Abolition of all right of inheritance. STATE WINS YOUR CHILDREN LOSE.

4. Confiscation of the property of all immigrants and rebels. REMEMBER WHO GETS TO DEFINE THIS.

5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the STATE , by means of a national bank with STATE capital and an exclusive monopoly. THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS A PRIVATELY OWNED CENTRAL BANK AND NOT PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT.

6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the STATE. REMEMBER THAT STATE MEANS ELITES!

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the STATE , the bringing into cultivation of wastelands , and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

8. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies , especially for agriculture. I THINK THIS USED TO BE CALLED SLAVERY!

9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries ; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of population over the country. THAT MEANS LIVE WHERE THEY TELL YOU OR STARVE!

10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production. MEANING GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENS , LIKE THOMAS JEFFERSON TAKED ABOUT LONG AGO!!!!!!!!!!

Here's your free history lesson , make of it what you will but make NO MISTAKE the Fox in is the henhouse/white house............

[PLK]

Your question is legitimate, and I don't take it as a jab. I guess it's a part of small town life to accept some things because the dynamics involved in trying to change them is not worth the trouble. If you have never lived in a very small town, so small that the school system IS the community, then you may not understand it.

My children will not be affected by this, at least not permanently. Selfish attitude, I know; they are bright kids and will do well whatever the environment. Unfortunately, it's the borderline kids who may never recover from this foolishness. In fact, it's the very kids that this garbage was created to help who will be most damaged by it.

[freemama]

Thank you for your thoughtful response. I taught in a small town public school, so I understand your problem from the other side of the fence.

[LiteKeeper]

The purpose of public education is to make good citizens.

Perhap, it is better put, the purpose of education is to produce an educated citizen, not just a trained, or indoctrinated, lackey of the state.

[ffusco]

I'll buy that.