Americans Have Near-Record Low Confidence In U.S. Public Schools

Americans are becoming increasingly skeptical of the U.S. public school system, revealing near-record low confidence in schools.

According results released this week from a Gallup poll conducted last month, 34 percent of those surveyed said they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in public schools. The number is unchanged from last year through controversial policies and political battles regarding legislation and budgets.

Confidence in public schools ranks eighth among 16 confidence categories that Gallup studies. Public schools confidence closely follows the presidency -- with 35 percent surveyed saying they had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the presidency -- and falls in the middle of top-contender the military and the lowest confidence-breeding Congress, at 12 percent.

The current level of confidence in public schools is also a departure from the 58 percent confidence rating Gallup surveyed in 1974 and less than the 41 percent in 2004.

From Gallup:

Many school systems got a lifeline in 2009 when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act directed about $100 billion to help fund public education and save teachers' jobs. Americans' confidence in U.S. public schools did trend somewhat higher that year, to 38 percent, but not enough to be statistically meaningful. Now, with stimulus funding running out this year, many education programs and jobs are again at risk.

Younger Americans proved to be more confident in public schools than older Americans, and those surveyed who carry a college degree or have had some college education were less confident in the public school system than those with a high school diploma or less.

American confidence in public schools could fall further if more funding is slashed from education budgets, Gallup reports.

To name a few, Detroit Public Schools is facing major budget cuts, including pay cuts and reduced staff, in a proposed 2012 budget last month. San Francisco slashed $113 million from its education budget last year and faces an additional $20 million in further cuts this year.

But Wednesday in D.C., U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan defended the Education Department's request for a 13.3 percent budget increase over 2011.

Comments

[Jebus Chris]

11:48 AM on 08/03/2011

The lack of confidence in public schools starts from the top down. Most of the people that run the schools do not send their children to public schools, take for example Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The Mayor is responsible for Chicago Public Schools, but he is sending his children to a private school. So how exactly are residents supposed to have confidence in the schools when those running them don't?

[infonomics]

06:25 AM on 08/03/2011

85% of programmers are self-taught. I'm just saying.

[Giantevilhead]

05:20 AM on 08/03/2011

What I really find frustrating is that a wealth of research on child development and learning has been done in the past 50 years but much of that has not yet been applied to the classrooms. Anyone who studies child development psychology or behavior analysis knows that there are dozens of ways of maximizing learning while minimizing effort and stress. However, most teachers have never even heard of the most basic of those methods.

[foresure]

06:31 PM on 08/11/2011

Giantevilhead

So "teachers' colleges" have totally failed. All those advanced degrees in education have been useless.

Of course I agree with you.

But what are these "most basic of methods" have not been applied.

I'll bet they've been tried and failed.

[Giantevilhead]

09:22 PM on 08/12/2011

Basic analysis of student behavior is one. Disruptive students do not behave badly for no reason, they are reinforced for their bad behavior and figuring out the consequences that reinforce bad behavior can help stop their disruptive behavior. Shy students who do not participate in class are not reinforced enough or are punished for their participation. If you want them to participate in class more then you have to understand the conditions under which they do participate and try to replicate it in the future.

[foresure]

02:35 PM on 08/02/2011

It is not a question of bad teachers or bad schools, or unfair tests.

It is a question of inadequate, dysfunctional families, that produce children who have neither the desire to go to school, or to learn. Many of them also lack the ability to do maintain themselves in a school setting, so they are unable to learn.

Therefore, fulltime, complete, comprehensive VOLUNTARY boarding schools, located in the neighborhood.

They may take a while to pay for themselves, but after a while we will save a fortune by decreasing the prison population.

If teachers woud stop crying for more pay, and complaining endlessly how hard they work, maybe they could contribute to the discussion.

[HockeyMom]

10:01 AM on 08/03/2011

And you are going to trust those dysfunctional families with the decision? Or are you going to make the decision for them? I think we did this in the 1860's and totally destroyed whole cultures that still struggle to this day.

[foresure]

11:00 AM on 08/03/2011

HockeyMom

One can always resist change. Just keep spending more money, accomplishing nothing, until the whole system collapses.

However, I don't think that is a terribly progressvie position to take.

[UmaUma]

05:25 PM on 08/05/2011

I question your basic assumption that we have a such a epidemic in poor parenting and dysfunctional families.

[foresure]

05:58 PM on 08/05/2011

UmaUma

That's a fair enough thing to do. Part of my conclusion is that 40% of the American population is receiving food aid in some form.

It is considered a real success if 50% of the students in inner city schools graduate hight school.

It is based on the huge increase in the prison population of the United States.

If, as you seem to suggest, it is simply a question of poverty, then we should
just continue to spend more more like President Johnson suggested.

That surely proves my point.

[foresure]

02:29 PM on 08/02/2011

Have you noticed that of all the people who have claimed to be teachers, not one has offered any constructive ideas for improvement, except to pay teachers more, stop testing children, and be nice to them. Smaller classes are an obvious way to improve education.

This blog has convinced me that the entire education business, top to bottom has run out of ideas.

My proposal: Voluntary, neighborhod boarding schools, which feed, house, educate, provide medical care, and nurturance to children.

Paid for out the support payments to adults whose only claim for support is that they have childrren.

[armstrong st]

10:14 AM on 08/01/2011

If people have low confidence in public schools, isn't this a sign that something should finally be done about education?

Steve from www.essaytask.com

[LiberalAsTheDayIsLong]

08:45 PM on 07/31/2011

Public education made this country great. Most Presidents went to public school. My three kids went to public school. Two have graduated from college, have jobs, own homes, and are prodcutive members of society. There is nothing wrong with our public schools that a stronger commitment to make them better and more parental involvement won't fix.

[DeuxExMachina]

06:36 AM on 08/01/2011

I'm for choice but I also believe public schools could be better. See the article on what the Shaghai, China local authorities are doing about public education:

http://the-diplomat.com/2011/08/01/how-shanghai-schools-beat-them-all/

Again the question should be, "Is the school & staff the source of inspiration or are the motivated students the drivers of excellence in public schools?"

[DeuxExMachina]

06:39 AM on 08/01/2011

Oops! Dropped key. That should have been 'Shanghai, China'...

[INVet]

09:29 AM on 08/03/2011

I know Chinese students who are attending college right now. They agree that China students are great at test taking and memorization but not good at critical thinking and reasoning.

There is a reason that China does less innovating and inventing and more Ciber spying to steal our intellectual property. Their schools stress conformatity, obedience and memorization - ours stress critical thinking and learning.

[mezzanoche]

05:43 PM on 07/31/2011

7 Billion autonomous, complex creatures called humans on the planet=Some winners in life, and some losers. That is true for all of life on the planet. Humans are always trying to make things "fair", and it is a joke, we can not create "equality" in our species, it will never be. The illusion of control I like to call it, all in an attempt to combat our fears and anxieties over our mortality. Winners and Losers, it will always happen, happens in evolution, humans are not immune to it. Control=Illusion...people will do whatever they want to do at any moment in time to defend themselves against their own psychology. Teachers lol, another label, we all teach we all learn, that is life. "Teachers" somehow think that the weight of our species rests on their shoulders lol, as if human discovery and quest was ever measured by a classroom or the unions, or salary request, or benefits, or public schools or private schools? :-) If you want a better life, and you somehow happen to attain that "better" life, you better believe that someone else was denied a "better" to accomodate yours. Winners, Losers don't you ever forget that people. It is all around us in nature, in us, in the universe. ;-) Humans love the illusion of control, of dominion, it is what gets us up in the morning, it is what we covet more than anything else in life. take care, best wishes. :-)

[DeuxExMachina]

06:24 AM on 08/01/2011

Let me guess You don't need anything from anyone including the government? The sign on your property telling people to keep out . You have your suburban underground bunker with barrels of water, baked beans, survival kit, shotgun, rifle and pistol at the ready, laughing by yourself at all and sundry -:)

[mezzanoche]

09:05 AM on 08/01/2011

LOL, your description of me couldn't be further from the truth, but nice attempt at generalization. 1.) I don't own a gun, never owned a gun, and I have never even fired a gun once in my life. 2.) People help one another for all reasons, has nothing to do with a gov't or someone being paid a salary to do it. 3.) If I ever "needed" anything from the gov't, I would have every right to those services, seeing how I am the one supplying part of the money that runs said services and gov't. So technically, I would just be helping myself ;-) 4.) I have worked in the private sector my whole working career up to and including this day. 5.) The gov't does not do anything that people can't do for themselves, and the ones that are in an emergency situation get just as much help from volunteers, non-profit orgs, charity, assistance from friends and family at times of need, neighbors, religious groups and everyday donations by tax paying citizens. But, if they were to get some form of assistance from the gov't, if they pay their taxes, they are just getting part of their money back that they put into it. I mean where do you think the gov't gets their money from? They tax us, and they print currency arbitrarily whenever they want to.

[mezzanoche]

09:05 AM on 08/01/2011

They do not create anything that we do not already create for ourselves. They do not innovate anything that we do not already innovate for ourselves etc. etc. And the ones that do not want to work, or have so many issues in life (as if we all don't have problems etc.), they will have to deal with the consequences as they come. That is life...you only get out of it what you do and are willing to put back into it.

[OP3366]

01:12 PM on 07/31/2011

I have had several careers, but upon reaching middle age decided to devote the rest of my life as a teacher. I have never worked as hard, under such pressure, and for so many hours each week (people who think teachers work 8-3 haven't th slightest clue).

I have gown old before my time. But what causes the most stress and often makes the day most difficult? I am expected to be psychologist, nutritionist, police officer, parole officer, parent in abstentia, a shoulder to cry on, a wizard in technology, an AMT machine for kids with no lunch money or supplies or inadequate classrooms, and finally, in the end, try to teach. Why do we do it? Because the successes are worth it all. Still...

The public wants to blame the politicians they elect. Parents want to blame teachers for their questionable parenting, from little things like poor nutrition to stuff they should be in jail for doing. Society wants to blame teacher unions (I don't even have one). I look in a mirror every day and wonder how I could do better , as a teacher and as a parent. How nice if parents, politicians, administrators and those who design our education system would do the same.

[OP3366]

07:32 PM on 07/31/2011

Your starting salary will be about $37,000 in New York so you would need a second income or live with someone who earns lots more (see real estate prices). You will also need to take loans to receive a masters degree and teaching license. And if you teach where I do, you will need a car. If you teach in some neighborhoods, you will have to pay someone to watch your car.

Arrive at 7:30 AM, finish teaching at 3 PM, with no lunch half the time. After school you will tutor, moderate clubs, serve on committees and likely take courses in new technologies and methodology. If you are dedicated, you arrive home by about 6.

Day is half over: I manage a website for each class, correspond regularly with parents, search for primary materials, write official lesson plans, create exams and alternate assessments, grade work and correct essays sometimes past midnight, and part of every weekend. More than half a dozen of my colleagues were in the emergency room this year for chest pains.

In my particular school, you will also be personally involved with students who have drug issues, severe depression, alcoholism, or been abused at home. You are legally responsible as about 10 students are assigned to you for guidance.

But if you love your subject, and survive the odds of most teachers quitting within a few years, you will find rich rewards, as well. Why don't more people do it ? Take the plunge and find

[callitlikeitis]

12:54 PM on 07/31/2011

Wilma posted below "Poverty has nothing to do with a child's ability to learn." Poverty plays a major role in a child's education. The child's mental attentiveness is directly related to the conditions in the home. The child's access to educational opportunities is limited to the funding of the school system. The exposure to technology is dependent upon money. While poverty is an incentive to some students to strive to escape through education, the major effect is the continuation of the poverty cycle. This is evident in the public system in urban areas. As funding is reduced, so is the level of education. I said on another post, The dis-service being done to the youth of today, will negatively affect ALL of us tomorrow.

[am10]

02:25 PM on 07/31/2011

Poverty does play a part in a child's education, but that doesn't mean it's an excuse. Plenty of underprivileged kids have risen above poverty. If they have parents that desire their child rise up, it will happen.

[foresure]

10:40 AM on 07/31/2011

Do away with neighborhood "day schools". Replace them with VOLUNTARY neighborhood boarding schools.

Pay for them by directing money away from able bodied adults to growing children.

[HockeyMom]

10:04 AM on 08/03/2011

You keep posting this and I've started to wonder if your children are already waiting at the doors of your voluntary boarding school.

[foresure]

11:01 AM on 08/03/2011

HockeyMom

Your total resistence to change tells me one thing. You must be one of those "professional educators".

Enjoy your paid summer vacation!

[Yank in France]

04:07 AM on 07/31/2011

Let me see here: a new poll shows (once again) that Americans have little confidence in the public school system.

But who is taking responsibility for their own actions -- as in children following the patterns of their parents?!

Yesterday, I was having a coffee near the beach, here is southern Spain (Granada). There was a very nice British couple with their (perhaps) 2-year-old son. He was CURIOUS about everything, but one thing really stood out: he wanted the same drink his parents were having, coffee! Normally, young children do not like coffee, especially without sugar. But the kid clearly wanted to be like his parents, so he HAD to have coffee.

If parents do NOT read, do not discuss anything of cultural interest (in the broad, not just narrow sense of the word), how can we expect than to show interest in subject matters at school?

Do your children observe you READING?

What about mathematics or the sciences? Music? Art?

Or do you watch STUPID action films, sit on your fat arses every weekend watching football and other sporting events -- which you NEVER practice?

As for me, I am SICK AND TIRED of hearing that the American public has low confidence in its public school system, because no public system can make up for the intellectual DESERT left by parents!!

[methodman]

12:29 AM on 07/31/2011

Teachers are caught between two worlds. the world of outdated grammer and the new object tot object set, oragami vocabularies that mix both symbol assignments to visual reconstruction and modeling and to creating with imagination your personality rope to dream upon. There is the progressive vocabulary model-making engineering for sustainability side or their is the religious dogma everyone belongs in Hell. Choose Wisely.

[umbrarchist]

11:00 PM on 07/30/2011

I think about 1% of books are better than 75% of teachers. But you can't expect a 6 year old to tell a good book form a mediocre book from a bad book on any subject.

Of course the teachers might find it annoying if the kids start noticing they can learn more from the right books than they can from the teachers.

[Jeff Hannan]

10:56 PM on 07/30/2011

There is absolutely nothing wrong with public schools that relief of poverty and removal of governmental micromanagement won't fix.

[WilmaJune]

01:53 AM on 07/31/2011

Poverty has nothing to do with a child's ability to learn. It is a strong motivator to do well in school. A child living in poverty wants to prove they can succeed. Example: Abe Lincoln.

[BonzaiBoy]

02:54 AM on 07/31/2011

"Poverty has nothing to do with a child's ability to learn."

Wow, you clearly have not worked in a modern-day classroom.

[djaikins]

09:13 AM on 07/31/2011

Abe Lincoln?? Wow! You had to dig around in history for that one.