Quality of Education
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Section 4: Problems Facing Schools
Discipline
Question 1: How do you feel about the discipline in the local public schools -- is it too strict, not strict enough, or just about right? (Asked in: 1969, 1970, 1971.)
[Code: 582-QuaPD-1]
Question 2: If "not strict enough": Can you tell me what you mean? In what ways is discipline not strict enough? (Asked in: 1970, 1971.)
[Code: 585-QuaPD-2]
Question 3: How serious a problem would you say discipline is in the public schools in this community -- very serious, fairly serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? (Asked in: 1982, 1984.)
[Code: 584-QuaPD-3]
Question 4: Some people say that if the schools and the teachers interest the children in learning, most disciplinary problems disappear. Do you agree or disagree? (Asked in: 1971.)
[Code: 588-QuaPD-4]
Question 5: Some students are not interested in school. Often, they keep other students from working in school. What should be done in these cases? (Asked in: 1971.)
[Code: 589-QuaPD-5]
Question 6: Suppose a student in a public school in this community were guilty of continually disruptive behavior in school. Which one of these two approaches would you prefer -- expelling the student from school or transferring the student to a separate facility for special attention? (Asked in: 1995.)
[Code: 590-QuaPD-6]
Question 7: What should be done with a high school student who refuses to obey his teachers? Punitive Action: Suspend/expel, Punish, Detention, Paddle; Rehabilitaion: Counsel, Provide work/study, Discussions with staff/authorities, Provide special curriculum/teachers; Miscellaneous; Don't know (Asked in: 1974.)
[Code: 594-QuaPD-7]
Question 8: When we talk about "discipline" in the schools, just what does this mean to you? Obeying rules/regulations; Authority/control by teachers; Respect for teachers; Students' lack of willingness to learn; Fighting/violence; Smoking/drugs. (Asked in: 1973, 1982.)
[Code: 553-QuaPD-8]
Discipline/Bullying
Question 9: When you were a student in school, were you bullied by another student? (Asked in: 2012.)
[Code: 944-QuaPD-9]
Question 10: When you were a student in school, did you bully another student? (Asked in: 2012.)
[Code: 945-QuaPD-10]
Question 11: In your opinion, should bullying prevention be part of the school’s curriculum? (Asked in: 2012.)
[Code: 946-QuaPD-11]
Question 12: In your opinion, should schools investigate and discipline students involved in bullying incidents outside of school, including bullying that occurs over the Internet? (Asked in: 2012.)
[Code: 947-QuaPD-12]
Discipline/Dress Codes
Question 13: A few public schools are now requiring students to wear uniforms to school. Would you approve or disapprove of the public schools in your community requiring all students to wear uniforms? (Asked in: 1996.)
[Code: 572-QuaPD-13]
Question 14: In some U.S. cities, parents of schoolchildren are being given the choice of sending their children to a special public school that has strict discipline, including a dress code, and that puts emphasis on the three Rs. If you lived in one of these cities, and had children of school age, would you send them to such a school or not? (Asked in: 1975.)
[Code: 586-QuaPD-14]
Discipline/Solutions
Question 15: Lack of discipline is often cited as a problem confronting the public schools. Please look over this list and tell me which of these possible solutions you think would be most helpful in improving school discipline: Classes for teachers on how to deal with problem children; Discussion groups with parents of problem children; Required classes for parents of problem children; Suspension of students with extreme behavior problems; Formation of special classes for students who have behavior problems; Creation of a system of work-study programs, with problem children doing useful work half-time and attending school half-time; Classes for administrators to help them create more orderly behavior; Tougher courts, probation systems, and work programs for delinquents; Creation of a curriculum more relevant to the interests and concerns of students; Alternative schools. (Asked in: 1985.)
[Code: 602-QuaPD-15]
Question 16: Here are some student behavior problems which may occur in school. In your opinion, who should deal with each kind of problem -- should it be the parents, the school, or the courts? Truancy (skipping school); Vandalism of school property; Bringing weapons to school; Fighting in school; Using alcohol or drugs on school property; Striking a teacher; Stealing money or clothing from other students. (Asked in: 1980.)
[Code: 608-QuaPD-16]
Question 17: Many people say that discipline is one of the major problems of the public schools today. Would you please look over this list and tell me which reasons you think are most important to explain why there is a discipline problem? 1. Lack of discipline in the home; Lack of respect for law and authority throughout society; Students who are constant troublemakers often can't be removed from school; Some teachers are not properly trained to deal with discipline problems; The courts have made school administrators so cautious that they don't deal severly with student misbahavior; Viewing television programs that emphasize crime and violence; Punishment is too lenient; Decline in the teaching of good manners; Teachers themselves do not command respect; Failure on the part of teachers to make classroom work more interesting; One-parent families. (Asked in: 1983.)
[Code: 609-QuaPD-17]
Dropouts
Question 18: Just your impression, do you think that the national dropout rate of students in high school is higher today than it was 25 years ago, lower today, or about the same as it was 25 years ago? (Asked in: 1996.)
[Code: 562-QuaPD-18]
Question 19: Just your opinion, how important a problem is the high school dropout rate in U.S. public high schools? (Asked in: 2009.)
[Code: 878-QuaPD-19]
Question 20: How about in your own community, how important a problem is the high school dropout rate in the public high school in your community? (Asked in: 2009.)
[Code: 879-QuaPD-20]
Question 21: Now, in your opinion, which of the following reasons do you believe is a contributing factor to the national public high school dropout rate? (Asked in: 2009.)
[Code: 880-QuaPD-21]
Question 22: Now I am going to read several ideas that have been suggested to help reduce the national dropout rate and keep more students in high school until graduation. For each, tell me if you think it would be very effective, somewhat effective, not very effective, or not effective at all? (Asked in: 2009.)
[Code: 881-QuaPD-22]
View more questions related to QUALITY OF EDUCATION
POLL RESULTS
Problems Facing Schools
Discipline
Question 1: How do you feel about the discipline in the local public schools -- is it too strict, not strict enough, or just about right? (Asked in: 1969, 1970, 1971.)
[Code: 582-QuaPD-1]
National Totals |
||||
Year |
Too Strict % |
Not Strict Enough % |
Just About Right |
Don't Know % |
| 1971 | 3 |
48 |
33 |
16 |
| 1970 | 2 |
53 |
31 |
14 |
| 1969 | 2 |
49 |
44 |
5 |
Question 2: If "not strict enough": Can you tell me what you mean? In what ways is discipline not strict enough? (Asked in: 1970, 1971.)
[Code: 585-QuaPD-2]
National Totals |
|
Mentions % |
|
| (Asked in 1971 of those who answered "not strict enough" to question above): "Can you tell me what you mean? In what ways is discipline not strict enough?" | |
Teachers lack authority to keep order |
11 |
Students have too much freedom; they can get away with anything |
11 |
Students have no respect for their teachers; Pay no attention to them |
6 |
Rules are not enforced |
3 |
Vandalism |
2 |
Other and don't know |
11 |
(Asked in 1970 of those who answered "not strict enough" to question above): "Who should assume more responsibilty for correcting this situation?" |
|
Teachers |
16 |
School Administrators |
16 |
| Parents | 30 |
| School Board | 6 |
| Students | 2 |
| Other | 2 |
| Don't Know | 2 |
Question 3: How serious a problem would you say discipline is in the public schools in this community -- very serious, fairly serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? (Asked in: 1982, 1984.)
[Code: 584-QuaPD-3]
National Totals |
|||||
Year |
Very Serious % |
Fairly Serious % |
Not Too Serious |
Not at All Serious % |
Don't Know % |
| 1984 | 34 |
34 |
22 |
4 |
6 |
| 1982 | 39 |
31 |
20 |
2 |
8 |
Question 4: Some people say that if the schools and the teachers interest the children in learning, most disciplinary problems disappear. Do you agree or disagree? (Asked in: 1971.)
[Code: 588-QuaPD-4]
National Totals |
|||
Year |
Agree % |
Disagree % |
No Opinion % |
| 1971 | 76 |
18 |
6 |
Question 5: Some students are not interested in school. Often, they keep other students from working in school. What should be done in these cases? (Asked in: 1971.)
[Code: 589-QuaPD-5]
National Totals |
|
1971 |
Mentions % |
| Special classes for all who are not interested | 29 |
| Expel them | 12 |
| Offer better/more intersting curriculum/ teaching methods | 11 |
| Special counseling | 9 |
| Harsher discipline | 9 |
| Vocational training | 8 |
| Make their parents responsible | 7 |
| Put in school or problem sudents | 6 |
| Teachers should take more interst in such students | 4 |
| Miscellaneous | 5 |
| Don't know/no answer | 18 |
Question 6: Suppose a student in a public school in this community were guilty of continually disruptive behavior in school. Which one of these two approaches would you prefer -- expelling the student from school or transferring the student to a separate facility for special attention? (Asked in: 1995.)
[Code: 590-QuaPD-6]
National Totals |
||||
Year |
Expulsion % |
Transfer % |
Neither % |
Don't Know % |
| 1995 | 20 |
77 |
2 |
1 |
Question 7: What should be done with a high school student who refuses to obey his teachers? Punitive Action: Suspend/expel, Punish, Detention, Paddle; Rehabilitation: Counsel, Provide work/study, Discussions with staff/authorities, Provide special curriculum/teachers; Miscellaneous; Don't know. (Asked in: 1974.)
[Code: 594-QuaPD-7]
National Totals |
|
1974 |
Mentions % |
| Punishment: | |
| Suspend/expel | 31 |
| Punish | 11 |
| Detention | 4 |
| Paddle | 7 |
| Rehabilitation: | |
| Counsel | 13 |
| Provide work/study | 1 |
| Discussions with staff/authorities | 8 |
| Involve Parents | 22 |
| Provide special curriculum/teachers | 10 |
| Miscellaneous | 3 |
| Don't know/no answer | 10 |
Question 8: When we talk about "discipline" in the schools, just what does this mean to you? Obeying rules/regulations; Authority/control by teachers; Respect for teachers; Students' lack of willingness to learn; Fighting/violence; Smoking/drugs. (Asked in: 1973, 1982.)
[Code: 553-QuaPD-8]
National Totals |
|
1982 % |
|
| Obeying rules/regulations | 54 |
| Authority/control by teachers | 31 |
| Respect for teachers | 18 |
| Students' lack of willingness to learn | 7 |
| Fighting/violence | 3 |
| Smoking/drugs | 2 |
| Miscellaneous | 1 |
| Don't know/no answer | 5 |
| Note: Multiple answers permitted. | |
Note: Percentages were not published in the 1973 poll. The following statements convey some idea of the wide range of views given in response to the question: "When we talk about 'discipline,' just what does this mean to you?" Discipline is respect for the teacher on the part of the child; and respect for the child on the part of the teacher. Learning taking place without confusion. Keeping children so interested in what they're learning that obeying the rules is almost automatic. Discipline and self-control and a proper respect for other students and those in authority. Without discipline neither school nor society can exist. The world would be bedlam. Proper discipline makes children happier. When they can run wild, they are undone by the confusion they create. Most respondents saw discipline as a matter of obeying rules, respecting views of parents, teachers, and others in authority, and being considerate of fellow students who wish to learn in a peaceful atmosphere. |
|
Discipline/Bullying
Question 9:
When you were a student in school, were you bullied by another student? (Asked in: 2012.)
[Code: 944-QuaPD-9]
National Totals |
|||
Year |
Yes % |
No % |
Don't know/refused % |
| 2012 | 45 |
55 |
0 |
Question 10:
When you were a student in school, did you bully another student? (Asked in: 2012.)
[Code: 945-QuaPD-10]
National Totals |
|||
Year |
Yes % |
No % |
Don't know/refused % |
| 2012 | 16 |
84 |
0 |
Question 11:
In your opinion, should bullying prevention be part of the school’s curriculum? (Asked in: 2012.)
[Code: 946-QuaPD-11]
National Totals |
|||
Year |
Yes % |
No % |
Don't know/refused % |
| 2012 | 78 |
22 |
0 |
Question 12:
In your opinion, should schools investigate and discipline students involved in bullying incidents outside of school, including bullying that occurs over the Internet? (Asked in: 2012.)
[Code: 947-QuaPD-12]
National Totals |
|||
Year |
Yes % |
No % |
Don't know/refused % |
| 2012 | 58 |
41 |
1 |
Discipline/Dress Codes
Question 13:
A few public schools are now requiring students to wear uniforms to school. Would you approve or disapprove of the public schools in your community requiring all students to wear uniforms? (Asked in: 1996.)
[Code: 572-QuaPD-13]
National Totals |
|||
Year |
Approve % |
Disapprove % |
Don't Know % |
| 1996 | 53 |
44 |
3 |
Question 14: In some U.S. cities, parents of schoolchildren are being given the choice of sending their children to a special public school that has strict discipline, including a dress code, and that puts emphasis on the three Rs. If you lived in one of these cities, and had children of school age, would you send them to such a school or not? (Asked in: 1975.)
[Code: 586-QuaPD-14]
National Totals |
|||
Year |
Yes % |
No % |
Don't Know % |
| 1975 | 57 |
33 |
10 |
Discipline/Solutions
Question 15: Lack of discipline is often cited as a problem confronting the public schools. Please look over this list and tell be which of these possible solutions you think would be most helpful in improving school discipline. Classes for teachers on how to deal with problem children; Discussion groups with parents of problem children; Required classes for parents of problem children; Suspension of students with extreme behavior problems; Formation of special classes for students who have behavior problems; Creation of a system of work-study programs, with problem children doing useful work half-time and attending school half-time; Classes for administrators to help them create more orderly behavior; Tougher courts, probation systems, and work programs for delinquents; Creation of a curriculum more relevant to the interests and concerns of students; Alternative schools. (Asked in: 1985.)
[Code: 602-QuaPD-15]
National Totals 1985 |
|
| Classes for teachers on how to deal with problem children | 64 |
| Discussion groups with parents of problem children | 62 |
| Required classes for parents of problem children | 50 |
| Suspension of students with extreme behavior problems | 46 |
| Formation of special classes for students who have behavior problems | 45 |
| Creation of a system of work-study programs, with problem children doing useful work half-time and attending school half-time | 44 |
| Classes for administrators to help them create more orderly behavior | 43 |
| Tougher courts, probation systems, and work programs for delinquents | 42 |
| Creation of a curriculum more relevant to the interests and concerns of students | 32 |
| Alternative schools | 21 |
| Note: Figures add to more than 100% because of multiple answers. | |
Question 16: Here are some student behavior problems which may occur in school. In your opinion, who should deal with each kind of problem -- should it be the parents, the school, or the courts? Truancy (skipping school); Vandalism of school property; Bringing weapons to school; Fighting in school; Using alcohol or drugs on school property; Striking a teacher; Stealing money or clothing from other students. (Asked in: 1980.)
[Code: 608-QuaPD-16]
|
1980 National Totals |
||||
Parents % |
School % |
Courts % |
Don't Know % |
|
| Truancy (skipping school) | 72 |
45 |
9 |
2 |
| Vandalism of school property | 44 |
39 |
50 |
2 |
| Bringing weapons to school | 41 |
35 |
59 |
3 |
| Fighting in school | 42 |
75 |
10 |
3 |
| Using alcohol or drugs on school property | 50 |
57 |
35 |
2 |
| Striking a teacher | 43 |
56 |
35 |
3 |
| Stealing money or clothing from other students | 48 |
58 |
30 |
3 |
| Note: Figures add to more than 100% because of multiple answers. | ||||
Question 17: Many people say that discipline is one of the major problems of the public schools today. Would you please look over this list and tell me which reasons you think are most important to explain why there is a discipline problem? Lack of discipline in the home; Lack of respect for law and authority throughout society; Students who are constant troublemakers often can't be removed from school; Some teachers are not properly trained to deal with discipline problems; The courts have made school administrators so cautious that they don't deal severely with student misbahavior; Viewing television programs that emphasize crime and violence; Punishment is too lenient; Decline in the teaching of good manner;s Teachers themselves do not command respect; Failure on the part of teachers to make classroom work more interesting; One-parent families. (Asked in: 1983.)
[Code: 609-QuaPD-17]
National Totals |
|
1983 |
Mentions % |
| Lack of discipline in the home | 72 |
| Lack of respect for law and authority throughout society | 54 |
| Students who are constant troublemakers often can't be removed from school | 42 |
| Some teachers are not properly trained to deal with discipline problems | 42 |
| The courts have made school administrators so cautious that they don't deal severely with student misbahavior | 41 |
| Viewing television programs that emphasize crime and violence | 39 |
| Punishment is too lenient | 39 |
| Decline in the teaching of good manners | 37 |
| Teachers themselves do not command respect | 36 |
| Failure on the part of teachers to make classroom work more interesting | 31 |
| One-parent families | 26 |
| Note: Figures add to more than 100% because of multiple answers. | |
Dropouts
Question 18: Just your impression, do you think that the national dropout rate of students in high school is higher today than it was 25 years ago, lower today, or about the same as it was 25 years ago? (Asked in: 1996.)
[Code: 562-QuaPD-18]
National Totals |
||||
Year |
Higher % |
Lower % |
About the Same % |
Don't Know % |
| 1996 | 64 |
15 |
18 |
3 |
Question 19: Just your opinion, how important a problem is the high school dropout rate in U.S. public high schools? (Asked in: 2009.)
[Code: 878-QuaPD-19]
National Totals |
|
In the Nation's Schools % |
|
| Most important problem | 18 |
| One of the most important problems | 71 |
| Not that important a problem | 10 |
| Not a problem | 1 |
| Don't know | - |
Question 20: How about in your own community, how important a problem is the high school dropout rate in the public high school in your community? (Asked in: 2009.)
[Code: 879-QuaPD-20]
National Totals |
|
In the Community's Schools % |
|
| Most important problem | 13 |
| One of the most important problems | 46 |
| Not that important a problem | 28 |
| Not a problem | 12 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Question 21: Now, in your opinion, which of the following reasons do you believe is a contributing factor to the national public high school dropout rate? (Asked in: 2009.)
[Code: 880-QuaPD-21]
National Totals |
|||
Yes, contributes % |
No, does not contribute % |
Don't know % |
|
| Classes are not interesting to students | 61 |
39 |
- |
| Student has failed too many classes | 83 |
17 |
- |
| Student was suspended or expelled | 64 |
35 |
1 |
| Student left to get a job or become a parent | 80 |
19 |
1 |
Question 22: Now I am going to read several ideas that have been suggested to help reduce the national dropout rate and keep more students in high school until graduation. For each, tell me if you think it would be very effective, somewhat effective, not very effective, or not effective at all?
(Asked in: 2009.)
[Code: 881-QuaPD-22]
National Totals |
|||||
Very Effective % |
Somewhat Effective % |
Not Very Effective % |
Not Effective At All % |
Don't know % |
|
| Allow students to attend high school part time so they can work part time | 31 |
45 |
15 |
9 |
- |
| Encourage students to attend a non-traditional high school | 23 |
51 |
18 |
7 |
1 |
| Make high school classes more interesting | 52 |
37 |
8 |
3 |
- |
| Promise students college scholarships if they graduate | 44 |
35 |
15 |
5 |
1 |
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Last modified
August 6, 2012
k_q_quality_4.htm