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| New Poll Blames Parents for Problems in Education |
| posted by: Alix | January 03, 2011, 04:23 PM |
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Education reformers and policy makers have long pointed fingers at various groups for low graduation rates and various headaches in education. Teachers, administrators, and the economic down-turn have all been blamed for failing schools and underperforming students. In contrast, a recent Associated Press-Stanford University poll finds that 68 percent of adults blame parents for the problems in education. Poll respondents favored blaming parents more than any other group, including those directly responsible for educating children, including teachers, school administrators, the government and teachers unions. Only 35 percent of respondents blamed teachers directly. Among the interesting findings, women were more likely than men to say parents are at fault and conservatives were more likely than moderates or liberals to blame parents first. Those who said parents are at fault were more likely to cite a lack of discipline and limited expectations for students as the biggest problems in education. According to Julie Woestehoff, executive director of Parents United for Responsible Education, the problems and obstacles parents face daily are mounting in these tough times. "Children are tired, they're hungry and they need someone to help with their homework. Some kids face violence at home or in their neighborhood. Some parents are trying so hard to keep a roof over their family that they can't help with school," Woestehoff mentioned. Despite the grim outlook, a majority of parents are seeing improvement since they were in the school system. Fifty-five percent believe their children are getting a better education than they did, and nearly three-quarters believe that their child's school provides them with an "excellent or good" education. As education reform receives national attention from films and pundits, the public will undoubtedly start developing opinions about who is to blame for failing schools. What do you think of the results of the poll? Comment below.
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Comments (2)
Poll
written by Richard, January 10, 2011
Well, since you asked what we think of the poll, I will tell you that I do not think that parents should be blamed for everything that is wrong with kids and their education. The economy, businesses who determine the "statue quo" and the media is more to blame. Many parents have no other choice but to work way too long during the day and this leads to many of the problems poker sites
... written by Maggie - Indiana, January 04, 2011
Education is 3-sided: Family, School, Students. Family=parents,discipline, School=teachers, curriculum, Students=goals, motivation, attendance. I think of it as the "trinity" of education. You can't develop a strong education foundation if one of the sides is weak.
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