43rd annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll

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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
TABLE 38. Do you favor or oppose allowing students and their parents to choose which public schools in the community the students attend, regardless of where they live? Thinkstock/Comstock National Totals ’11 ’95 ’91 % % % Favor 74 69 62 Oppose 25 28 33 Don’t know/refused 1 3 5 TABLE 39. Do you favor or oppose allowing students and parents to choose a private school to attend at public expense? National Totals ’11 ’08 ’05 ’02 % % % % Favor 34 44 38 46 Oppose 65 50 57 52 Don’t know/refused 1 6 5 2 STUDENTS OF MILITARY FAMILIES America has been at war for a decade, placing enormous strains on the dedicated men and women who serve in our military. We wondered if Americans believe the public schools recognize the challenges facing military families, particularly as they relate to the education of their children. FINDINGS Only one of four Americans are aware of efforts made by their local schools to support students whose parents are serving in the U.S. armed forces. This is reasonable, as about one of four Americans has children in schools, and they would likely be the ones to have this knowledge. In a follow-up question asked only of those who said they were aware of efforts to support these families, one of three believed the schools were very effective in this area with another 50% indicating the schools were somewhat effective. TABLE 40. Based upon what you know or have heard, are you aware of efforts by schools in your community to support students whose parents are currently serving in the United States armed forces, either active duty, reserve, or National Guard? National Totals ’11 Yes 26 No 72 Don’t know/refused 2 % TABLE 41. Just your opinion, how effective are your community’s schools’ efforts to support students whose parents are currently serving in the United States armed forces? (Asked only of those who responded yes in Table #40.) National Totals ’11 Very effective 34 Somewhat effective 50 Not very effective 6 Not at all effective 4 Don’t know/refused 7 % School support for children of parents in the military? Somewhat effective Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. V93 N1 kappanmagazine.org 23
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43rd annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll

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