2019 PDK Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools

1. 2019 PDK Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools pdkpoll.org| #pdkpoll

2. 51st annual PDK Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools Frustration in the schools Teachers speak out on pay, funding, and feeling valued

3. Background • The PDK Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools has been a trusted and independent source of information since 1969. The poll occurs each spring with results published in the September issue of Kappan magazine. • The 2019 PDK poll was supported by the PDK Educational Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York. • The 2019 PDK poll on education was designed, managed, analyzed, and reported by Langer Research Associates of New York, N.Y., in consultation with PDK.

4. 2,389 American adults were surveyed Including 556 public school teachersfor the first time since 2000 Two focus groups — one with public school parents, one with public school teachers. Quotations in this slide show are taken from those focus groups. 2019 national poll pdkpoll.org | #pdkpoll | @JoshuaPStarr 4

5. Main areas covered • Teacher value and teacher strikes • Discipline • Religion in school • Civics • School funding and taxes • Pressures and problems at school • Workforce preparation 2019 national poll pdkpoll.org | #pdkpoll | @JoshuaPStarr 5

6. Do teachers feel valued by their communities?

7. Key points • Half of public school teachers have seriously considered leaving the profession in the past few years. • Only about half say their community values them a great deal or a good amount. • 60% of teachers say they are unfairly paid. • A majority of teachers say that, given the opportunity, they’d vote to go on strike for higher pay. • 55% of teachers would not want their own child to follow them into the profession.

12. “I have taught school now for 37 years, and I find working with youth to be the most rewarding and delightful career there could be. Teaching is a calling in life. I wouldn't have been happy doing any other career.” Jean, 60, mixed-race high school teacher in suburban Delaware

13. “I love my job, but I tell my children not to be teachers.” Julio 47, Hispanic upper elementary teacher in urban Arizona

14. “The roles of teachers have diminished in my community and the public in general. Somehow the tables have turned, and we are seen as enemies and no longer a part of the village.” Colleen, 41, Black high school teacher in suburban Georgia

15. How do you assess school quality?

16. Key points • 94% of teachers say the better way to assess a school’s quality is to look at the improvement its students show over time, rather than the percentage of students who pass a standardized state test at any given time. Most parents and all adults agree — 77% and 75%, respectively. • A small majority of parents — 52% —know that their state issues a report card on the local schools. 66% of parents who know about the state report card have read it and 82% who read it found them helpful. • More parents say their own child’s report card is most helpful in assessing school quality.

20. “I have seen those (state) report cards, but I don't pay much attention to them. I do not like or support standardized testing, and I don't believe test scores truly reflect how well a school is doing.” Robin, 49, White mother of one in urban Pennsylvania

21. Does religious study belong in public schools?

22. Key points • Majorities of all adults, parents, and teachers say schools should offer classes in Bible studies and comparative religions, with small percentages of Americans saying they should be required. • Evangelical Christians are most supportive of offering Bible studies in schools — at 82% — and most concerned that comparative religion courses could cause their child to question their family’s faith. • Only 1 in 7 teachers worry that comparative religions classes could lead students to question their family’s faith.

25. “I like the idea of Bible studies being offered. If you do that, you have to offer other comparative religion classes.” Michael, 43, White father of three in suburban Texas

26. “I am opposed to a class that solely concentrates on Bible study. I am, however, for a comparative religion class in which all religions and even non-religions are spoken of and depicted fairly.” Jennifer, 35, Hispanic kindergarten teacher in rural New Jersey

27. Should students study civics?

28. Key points • 97% of Americans say public schools should be teaching civics; 70% say it should be required. • Only a minority of parents — 29% — worry that civics classes might include political content that they disagree with. Even fewer teachers — 16% — share that concern. • Majorities of parents, all adults, and teachers say school should teach values as well as factual information. 61% of adults say it would be possible to reach agreement on shared values that could be taught in the public schools.

30. “Civics should be mandatory. If students don't know the basics about the society in which they live how can we expect them to be good citizens?” Jean, 60, mixed-race high school teacher in suburban Delaware

31. “I don't want my child attending a school where they're told America is the best and never does anything wrong because that simply isn't true. But teaching students to be proud of being an American and ways they can honor their country or support their fellow Americans is important.” Robin, 49, White mother of high school student in urban Pennsylvania

32. “Heck yes, patriotism should be taught in our schools. The Pledge of Allegiance should be done every morning and everyone should stand every afternoon when the flag is lowered. Every child in our public school system is an American citizen or wants to be an American citizen and should be respectful of our customs.” Sandy, 54, White mother of one in urban Missouri

33. How much should schools focus on workforce preparation?

34. Key points • Just 2 in 10 parents, teachers, and all adults say preparing students for work should be the main goal of the public schools. However, majorities also say schools should prepare students both for jobs and academically. • 45% of parents would like to have their child enroll in a job-skills course in high school rather than an advanced academic class or an arts/music course. • Computer programming topped the list of job-skills courses that parents would prefer for their child.

38. “Academic courses all the way! That’s what they really need at that point in their lives. Learning how to adult is the parents’ responsibility, and that can come later.” Autumn, 39, White mother of three elementary school students in suburban Michigan

39. “College is great, but the whole world does not attend college. We are doing our future generations such a disservice by pretending all students want to go to college and putting very little time and money on the other areas of life. Should they be allowed to drop some academic courses to take job skills, a huge yes.” Jean, 60, mixed-race high school teacher in suburban Delaware

40. Are schools adequately funded?

41. Key points • 25% of all adults say inadequate financial support is the biggest problem facing the public schools today. Even more teachers — 36% — say the same. • Two-thirds of parents and 85% of teachers are more apt to support a political candidate who favors increased school funding. • Increasing taxes even for schools is generally unpopular, but majorities of parents, all adults, and teachers favor using taxes on lotteries, legal recreational marijuana, and sports gambling as school funding sources.

45. “Using lotteries for educational funding is a great justifiable use of the taxes. Finally, a way gambling is useful!” Kyle, 33, White father of a 1st grader in an upstate New York suburb

46. “Paying teachers better wages so they don't have to get second jobs would be #1 on my list of priorities. When they don't have to get second jobs to support themselves, then they could be better rested, have more patience, and plan their lessons better." Cheryl, 53, White mother of seven in urban Washington

47. How should public schools handle discipline?

48. Key points • Parents and teachers agree that discipline in school is not strict enough. • Parents, all adults, and teachers support the concept of zero tolerance but pull back a bit when presented with a practical application of the policy. • Just 14% of parents have “a lot” of trust in their child’s school to handle discipline. • Two-thirds or more of parents, adults, and teachers say mediation/counseling are more effective ways to deal with discipline than detention/suspension.