Parental ISSUES
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Parental Control of Public Schools
Question 1: Do you feel that parents of public school students should have more say, less say, or do they have about the right amount of say regarding the following areas in public schools? Allocation of school funds. Curriculum (i.e., the courses offered). Selection and hiring of administrators. Books and instructional materials. (Asked in: 1990, 1998.)
[Code: 462-ParPX-1]
Question 2: In your opinion, how much say do the parents of public school students have about the following areas in the public schools in this community -- a great deal, a fair amount, very little, or almost none? (Asked in: 1990.)
[Code: 463-ParPX-2]
Question 3: Some states are considering laws that allow parents to petition to remove the leadership and staff at failing schools. Do you favor or oppose such laws in your own state? (Asked in: 2012.)
[Code: 943-ParPX-3]
Parental Rights
Question 4: People in some communities say the local public schools are infringing on the rights of parents to direct their children's education. In your opinion, are the public schools in your community infringing on the rights of local parents to direct their children's education? (Asked in: 1997.)
[Code: 464-ParPX-4]
Parents Responsible for Vandalism
Question 5: Should parents be made financially responsible, or not, for damages to school property done by their children? (Asked in: 1978.)
[Code: 465-ParPX-5]
Preparing for One-Parent Families
Question 6: The number of one-parent families in the U.S. is growing each year due to the high divorce rate, and it is predicted that nearly half of the children born in the 1980 will live, for a considerable period of time, with only one parent. Because of this, some people believe that the schools must find new ways to deal with the children from these broken homes. Of course, this will cost more money. Now, here are three proposals. For each one tell me whether you think it would be a good idea or a poor idea for the schools here. Make school personnel available for evening counseling with single parents who are working if their children are having trouble at school. Give teachers training to help them deal with special problems of children from one-parent families Provide activities so children can spend more time at school rather than going to an empty house. (Asked in: 1980.)
[Code: 466-ParPX-6]
Reasons for Moving to the Suburbs
Question 7: As you know, many families living in the big cities of the nation are moving to the suburbs. Why, in your opinion, are they doing this? (Asked in: 1973.)
[Code: 468-ParRX-7]
Reporting Student Progress
Question 8: Do the reports you receive on the progress of your child (eldest) in school provide you with the information you would like to have, or should the reports contain additional information that would be helpful? (Asked in: 1979.)
[Code: 469-ParRX-8]
Question 9: What grade would you give the information you receive from your oldest child's teachers regarding his or her academic progress -- A, B, C, D, or FAIL? (Asked in: 1992.)
[Code: 471-ParRX-9]
Question 10: Here is a list of different types of reports that the public schools use to inform parents of their children's progress in school. As I read off a description of each type, would you tell me if you consider it very useful, quite useful, not very useful, or not useful at all for informing you about the progress of your child? A written description of the student's progress in a number of areas. A checklist which indicates what the student knows and is able to do in each subject. A to F or numeric grades in each subject to denote excellent or failing achievement. A to F or numeric grades to describe the student's effort in each subject. (Asked in: 1994.)
[Code: 470-ParRX-10]
Responsibility for Moral Behavior
Question 11: Parents now have responsibility for the moral behavior of their children. Do you think that the schools should take on a share of this responsibility, or not? (Asked in: 1976.)
[Code: 472-ParRX-11]
Right to Sue
Question 12: Do you think parents should have the right to sue a school district if a student of normal intelligence and without physical disabilities reaches the sixth grade without being able to read? (Asked in: 1973.)
[Code: 473-ParRX-12]
Support for Teachers and Principals
Question 13: Suppose a teacher or principal reported that your oldest child was misbehaving and being disruptive in school. Whose side do you think you would be more likely to take -- the school's or your child's? (Asked in: 1997.)
[Code: 475-ParSX-13]
Question 14: What if a teacher or principal reported that your oldest child was not working hard enough at schoolwork? Whose side do you think you would be more likely to take -- the school's or your child's? (Asked in: 1997.)
[Code: 476-ParSX-14]
Television Viewing
Question 15: Do you place a definite limit on the amount of time your child spends viewing television during the school week? (Asked in: 1977, 1981, 1985.)
[Code: 477-ParTX-15]
Question 16: (For the eldest child) About how much time does he/she spend looking at television after school hours and until he/she goes to bed, on a typical school day? (Asked in: 1977.)
[Code: 478-ParTX-16]
What Parents Like About the Schools
Question 17: What is the main thing that you like about it (the school your oldest child attends)? (Asked in: 1982.)
[Code: 480-ParWX-17]
What Parents Like Best
Question 18: What do you like best about the school your child attends? (Asked in: 1979.)
[Code: 481-ParWX-18]
What Parents Like Least
Question 19: What do you like least about the school your child attends? (Asked in: 1979.)
[Code: 482-ParWX-19]
Willingness to Volunteer:
Question 20: If you were asked, would you be willing to work as an unpaid volunteer in any of the public schools in this community or not? (Asked in: 1992, 1997.)
[Code: 483-ParWX-20]
View more questions related to PARENTAL ISSUES
POLL RESULTS
Parental Control of Public Schools
Question 1: Do you feel that parents of public school students should have more say, less say, or do they have about the right amount of say regarding the following areas in public schools? (Asked in: 1990, 1998.)
[Code: 462-ParPX-1]
Year: 1998 | ||||
More Say % |
Less Say % |
Right Amount % | Don't Know % | |
| Allocation of school funds | 57 |
8 |
29 | 6 |
| Selection and hiring of administrators and principals | 55 |
9 |
30 |
6 |
Curriculum, that is, the subjects offered |
53 |
10 |
32 |
5 |
Selection and hiring of teachers |
48 |
13 |
34 |
5 |
Teacher and administrator salaries |
48 |
14 |
32 |
6 |
Selection of books and instructional materials |
46 |
13 |
37 |
4 |
Books placed in school libraries | 44 |
14 |
38 | 4 |
Year: 1990 |
||||
More Say % |
Less Say % |
Right Amount % |
Don't Know % |
|
| Allocation of school funds | 59 |
10 |
27 |
4 |
| Selection and hiring of administrators and principals | 46 |
14 |
37 |
3 |
Curriculum, that is, the subjects offered |
53 |
9 |
36 |
2 |
Selection and hiring of teachers |
41 |
17 |
38 |
4 |
Teacher and administrator salaries |
39 |
17 |
39 |
5 |
Selection of books and instructional materials |
43 |
13 |
41 |
3 |
Books placed in school libraries |
38 |
15 |
44 |
3 |
Question 2: In your opinion, how much say do the parents of public school students have about the following areas in the public schools in this community -- a great deal, a fair amount, very little, or almost none? (Asked in: 1990.)
[Code: 463-ParPX-2]
Year: 1990 | |||||
A Great Deal % |
A Fair Amount |
Very Little |
Almost None % | Don't Know % | |
Books placed in the school libraries | 5 |
17 |
29 |
37 | 12 |
Curriculum (i.e., the courses offered) |
4 |
21 |
37 |
28 |
10 |
Books and instructional materials |
3 |
14 |
31 |
41 |
11 |
Teacher and administrator salaries |
3 |
12 |
25 |
50 |
10 |
Selection of hiring of administrators |
3 |
11 |
26 |
50 |
10 |
Selection and hiring of teachers | 2 |
8 |
29 |
52 | 9 |
Question 3: Some states are considering laws that allow parents to petition to remove the leadership and staff at failing schools. Do you favor or oppose such laws in your own state? (Asked in: 2012.)
[Code: 943-ParPX-3]
National Totals | Public School Parents | |||||
| Year | Favor % | Oppose % | Don't Know/Refused % | Favor % | Oppose % | Don't Know/Refused % |
| 2012 | 70 | 28 | 2 | 76 | 22 | 2 |
Parental Rights
Question 4: People in some communities say the local public schools are infringing on the rights of parents to direct their children's education. In your opinion, are the public schools in your community infringing on the rights of local parents to direct their children's education? (Asked in: 1997.)
[Code: 464-ParPX-4]
National Totals | |||
| Year | Yes, Infringing % | No, Not Infringing % | Don't Know % |
| 1997 | 24 | 71 | 5 |
Parents Responsible for Vandalism
Question 5: Should parents be made financially responsible, or not, for damages to school property done by their children? (Asked in: 1978.)
[Code: 465-ParPX-5]
National Totals | |||
| Year | Yes, They Should Be % | No, They Shouldn't % | Don't Know % |
| 1978 | 86 | 11 | 3 |
Preparing for One-Parent Families
Question 6: The number of one-parent families in the U.S. is growing each year due to the high divorce rate, and it is predicted that nearly half of the children born in the 1980 will live, for a considerable period of time, with only one parent. Because of this, some people believe that the schools must find new ways to deal with the children from these broken homes. Of course, this will cost more money. Now, here are three proposals. For each one tell me whether you think it would be a good idea or a poor idea for the schools here. Proposal 1: Make school personnel available for evening counseling with single parents who are working if their children are having trouble at school. Proposal 2: Give teachers training to help them deal with special problems of children from one-parent families. Proposal 3: Provide activities so children can spend more time at school rather than going to an empty house. (Asked in: 1980.)
[Code: 466-ParPX-6]
Proposal 1: National Totals | |||
| Year | Good Idea % | Poor Idea % | Don't Know % |
| 1980 | 86 | 10 | 4 |
Proposal 2: National Totals |
|||
| Year | Good Idea % |
Poor Idea % |
Don't Know % |
| 1980 | 83 |
12 |
5 |
Proposal 3: National Totals |
|||
| Year | Good Idea % |
Poor Idea % |
Don't Know % |
| 1980 | 76 |
18 |
6 |
Reasons for Moving to the Suburbs
Question 7: As you know, many families living in the big cities of the nation are moving to the suburbs. Why, in your opinion, are they doing this? (Asked in: 1973.)
[Code: 468-ParRX-7]
Year: 1973 | |
| Reasons for Moving | % |
| Big-city congestion | 37 |
| Fear of high crime level | 24 |
| Less pollution | 17 |
| To get away from minorities | 14 |
| Better educational opportunities | 12 |
| More open spaces | 11 |
| More desirable housing | 11 |
| Better environment for children | 9 |
| Cities are too noisy | 7 |
| High city taxes | 6 |
| Deterioration of the big cities | 4 |
| Lack of privacy | 3 |
| To create friendships | 3 |
| Improve one's standard of living | 3 |
| Lower rental costs | 2 |
| Lower cost of living in suburbs | 2 |
| Better employment opportunities | 1 |
| Children get in more trouble in cities | 1 |
| Drug problem | 1 |
| Status symbol | 1 |
| Miscellaneous | 4 |
| Don't know | 6 |
Reporting Student Progress
Question 8: Do the reports you receive on the progress of your child (eldest) in school provide you with the information you would like to have, or should the reports contain additional information that would be helpful? (Asked in: 1979.)
[Code: 469-ParRX-8]
Year: 1979 | ||
Public School Parents % | Parochial School Parents % | |
| Satisfied with present reports | 62 | 67 |
| Dissatisfied | 32 | 13 |
| Don't know/no answer | 6 |
20 |
Question 9: What grade would you give the information you receive from your oldest child's teachers regarding his or her academic progress -- A, B, C, D, or FAIL? (Asked in: 1992.)
[Code: 471-ParRX-9]
National Totals | |||||||
| Year | A&B % | A % |
B % |
C % |
D % |
FAIL % |
Don't Know % |
| 1992 | 61 | 31 |
30 |
23 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
Question 10: Here is a list of different types of reports that the public schools use to inform parents of their children's progress in school. As I read off a description of each type, would you tell me if you consider it very useful, quite useful, not very useful, or not useful at all for informing you about the progress of your child? A written description of the student's progress in a number of areas A checklist which indicates what the student knows and is able to do in each subject A to F or numeric grades in each subject to denote excellent or failing achievement A to F or numeric grades to describe the student's effort in each subject (Asked in: 1994.)
[Code: 470-ParRX-10]
Year: 1994 | |||||
Very Useful % |
Quite Useful % |
Not Very Useful % |
Not Useful At All % | Don't Know % | |
| A written description of the student's progress in a number of areas | 74 |
20 |
5 |
* | 1 |
| A checklist which indicates what the student knows and is able to do in each subject | 70 |
22 |
6 |
1 | 1 |
| A to F or numeric grades in each subject to denote excellent to failing achievement | 58 |
32 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
| A to F or numeric grades to describe the student's effort in each subject | 56 |
32 |
9 |
1 |
2 |
| *Less than one-half of 1%. | |||||
Responsibility for Moral Behavior
Question 11: Parents now have responsibility for the moral behavior of their children. Do you think that the schools should take on a share of this responsibility, or not? (Asked in: 1976.)
[Code: 472-ParRX-11]
National Totals | |||
| Year | Yes, Schools Should Take on Share of Responsibility % | No, They Should Not % | Don't Know/No Answer % |
| 1976 | 67 | 30 | 3 |
Right to Sue
Question 12: Do you think parents should have the right to sue a school district if a student of normal intelligence and without physical disabilities reaches the sixth grade without being able to read? (Asked in: 1973.)
[Code: 473-ParRX-12]
National Totals | |||
| Year | Yes, Should Have Right % | No % | No Opinion % |
| 1973 | 27 | 64 | 9 |
Support for Teachers and Principals
Question 13: Suppose a teacher or principal reported that your oldest child was misbehaving and being disruptive in school. Whose side do you think you would be more likely to take -- the school's or your child's? (Asked in: 1997.)
[Code: 475-ParSX-13]
National Totals | |||
| Year | The School's Side % | Your Child's Side % | Don't Know % |
| 1997 | 57 | 25 | 18 |
Question 14: What if a teacher or principal reported that your oldest child was not working hard enough at schoolwork? Whose side do you think you would be more likely to take -- the school's or your child's? (Asked in: 1997.)
[Code: 476-ParSX-14]
National Totals | |||
| Year | The School's Side % | Your Child's Side % | Don't Know % |
| 1997 | 70 | 22 | 8 |
Television Viewing
Question 15: Do you place a definite limit on the amount of time your child spends viewing television during the school week? (Asked in: 1977, 1981, 1985.)
[Code: 477-ParTX-15]
National Totals | |||
| Year | Yes % | No % | Undesignated % |
| 1985 | 49 | 46 | 5 |
| 1981 | 36 | 57 | 7 |
| 1977 | 35 |
60 |
5 |
Question 16: (For the eldest child) About how much time does he/she spend looking at television after school hours and until he/she goes to bed, on a typical school day? (Asked in: 1977.)
[Code: 478-ParTX-16]
Year: 1977 |
||
By Children 12 Years of Age and Younger % |
By Children 13 Years of Age and Older % |
|
| No time | 2 |
5 |
| Up to 1 hour | 20 |
26 |
| Over 1 hour to 2 hours | 38 |
33 |
| Over 2 hours to 3 hours | 28 |
17 |
| Over 3 hours to 4 hours | 10 |
11 |
| Over 4 hours | 2 |
8 |
What Parents Like About the Schools
Question 17: What is the main thing that you like about it (the school your oldest child attends)? (Asked in: 1982.)
[Code: 480-ParWX-17]
Year: 1982 |
||
Public School Parents % |
Nonpublic School Parents % |
|
| Quality of education | 13 |
25 |
| Teachers' interest | 11 |
14 |
| Curriculum | 11 |
8 |
| Children are learning | 10 |
11 |
| Qualified teachers | 10 |
5 |
| Faculty are nice | 7 |
3 |
| Location | 7 |
5 |
| Parents kept informed | 4 |
7 |
| Discipline | 4 |
20 |
| Teacher/child relationship | 3 |
6 |
| Students are motivated | 3 |
4 |
| Morals/values taught | 1 |
10 |
| Extracurricular activities | 3 |
2 |
| Emphasis on the basics | 1 |
1 |
| Classroom size | 1 |
2 |
| Miscellaneous | 3 |
4 |
| Don't know | 10 |
8 |
| (Figures add to more than 100% because of multiple answers.) | ||
What Parents Like Best
Question 18: What do you like best about the school your child attends? (Asked in: 1979.)
[Code: 481-ParWX-18]
Year: 1979 |
1. Good teachers |
2. High standards |
3. Special programs |
| 4. Discipline |
What Parents Like Least
Question 19: What do you like least about the school your child attends? (Asked in: 1979.)
[Code: 482-ParWX-19]
Year: 1979 |
1. Lack of discipline |
2. Low standards |
3. Teachers |
| 4. Condition of school building |
| 5. Overcrowding |
| 6. Too far from home; children bused. |
| 7. Vandalism; use of marijuana, alcohol, and drugs by students |
Willingness to Volunteer
Question 20: If you were asked, would you be willing to work as an unpaid volunteer in any of the public schools in this community or not? (Asked in: 1992, 1997.)
[Code: 483-ParWX-20]
National Totals | |
| Year | Willing to Work as Unpaid Volunteer % |
| 1997 | 69 |
| 1992 | 59 |
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Last modified
August 6, 2012
k_q_parent_3.htm