43rd annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll

JOE NATHAN
EMPOWER PARENTS,
TEACHERS
When I look at this year’s PDK/Gallup poll results,
I see three trends emerging: Respect, empowerment,
and choice.
First, as a former urban public school teacher
married to a 33-year veteran of urban public
schools, and parent of an urban public school
teacher, I was gratified to see that two-thirds or
more of Americans respect the profession since
they would encourage “the brightest person you
COMMENTARY
know” and “a child of
yours” to become a public
school teacher. While
some educators feel a lack of respect, this poll
found considerable support for the profession.
Second, that esteem is demonstrated in the willingness
of 73% of poll respondents to empower
educators by “giv(ing) teachers flexibility to teach
in ways they think best,” rather than require
them “to follow a prescribed curriculum.” I hope
creative, committed, hardworking teachers find
these responses encouraging.
Third, just as most poll respondents want teachers
to be free to select materials and strategies, 74%
support allowing families “to choose which public
schools in the community the students attend,
regardless of where they live.” Seventy percent
also favor “the idea of charter public schools.” Poll
trends show support growing for public school
choice, including charters.
These responses are consistent with empowering
educators to decide how they teach. Some educators
want more respect, but oppose allowing
families to choose among district and charter
public schools. Strong majorities of the public,
wisely, I think, support both educator and family
choice.
JOE NATHAN is director of the Center for School
Change at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minn.
CHARTERS, VOUCHERS, AND CHOICE
Charter schools and vouchers continue to be in the
news and continue to be lightning rods of controversy in
the education community. For 10 years, we’ve tracked
Americans’ opinions on charter schools (public schools
that are freed from certain regulations that govern traditional
public schools) and vouchers (scholarships
funded by public dollars that enable students to attend
certain private schools).
FINDINGS
Americans continue to embrace the concept of charter
schools. This year’s poll shows an approval rating
of 70%, the highest recorded since the question was
first asked 10 years ago. Charter school support has
increased steadily over that period. Support for public
charter schools is strongest among Americans under age
40 (76%) and Republicans (77%).
Americans increasingly support choice — allowing students
and parents to choose which public schools to
attend in their community regardless of where they live
— and this support is consistent across age differences
and political affiliation.
But vouchers received the lowest approval rating in the
past 10 years — only one of three Americans favor allowing
students and parents to choose a private school
to attend with public dollars.
TABLE 37. As you may know, charter schools operate
under a charter or contract that frees them
from many of the state regulations imposed on public
schools and permits them to operate independently.
Do you favor or oppose the idea of charter
schools?
National Totals
‘11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07
% % % % %
Favor 70 68 64 51 60
Oppose 27 28 33 35 35
Don’t know/refused 3 4 3 14 5
22 Kappan September 2011 Thinkstock/Photodisc