|
|
 |
In March 2006, Time magazine teamed up with The Oprah Winfrey Show to poll 1,000 Americans—of all ages, classes and races—about their views on the educational system and high school dropouts. How do your views compare?
1. Where do you think the United States ranks internationally when it comes to the quality of education we provide overall? Would you say that the United States is best when it comes to quality of education, in the top 5, top 10, top 20, or below that?
| Best |
3% |
| Top 5 |
25% |
| Top 10 |
29% |
| Top 20 |
22% |
| Below that |
17% |
| No answer/don't know |
3% |
2. In general, what grade would you give public schools in the United States—an "A" for excellent, a "B", "C", "D" or a failing grade of "F"?
| A (excellent) |
5% |
| B |
31% |
| C |
44% |
| D |
10% |
| F (failing grade) |
7% |
| No answer/don't know |
3% |
3. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the public schools in this country?
| Satisfied |
39% |
| Dissatisfied |
55% |
| No answer/don't know |
6% |
4. Do you think that public schools in this country are in a "crisis," or not?
| In crisis |
61% |
| Not in crisis |
34% |
| No answer/don't know |
5% |
5. Do you think that we are spending too much money on public schools, too little money, or about the right amount of money on public schools?
| Too much |
10% |
| Too little |
64% |
| About the right amount |
22% |
| No answer/don't know |
4% |
6. Would you be willing to pay higher taxes to improve the public schools, or not?
| Willing to pay higher taxes |
59% |
| Not willing |
38% |
| No answer/don't know |
3% |
7. How do public schools today compare to, say, 20 years ago? In your opinion, are they better, worse, or about the same as they were 20 years ago?
| Better |
26% |
| Worse |
52% |
| Same |
18% |
| No answer/don't know |
5% |
8. Do you think that the public schools overall are teaching students the skills they will need for our economy in the 21st century, or not?
| Teaching skills they will need |
38% |
| Not teaching them |
57% |
| No answer/don't know |
6% |
9. Do you have any children in your household currently attending school, grades "K" thru grade 12?
10. Do any currently attend public schools? (Respondents: 323 out of 1,000)
| Yes |
86% |
| No |
14% |
| No answer/don't know |
1% |
More results from the Time magazine-Oprah Winfrey Show poll
|
 |
|
|
