| GALLUP
POLL TOPICS: A-Z
Education
Based on what you have
read or heard, do you favor or oppose the school voucher program George
W. Bush has proposed?
| |
Favor
|
Oppose
|
No opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Apr 20-22 |
47
|
35
|
18
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
45
|
36
|
19
|
In your opinion, what
is the single most important thing that could be done to prevent another
incidence of school shootings by students, like the recent ones in California?
| |
2001 Mar 26-28
|
1999 May 7-9 ^
|
| |
|
|
| Parent involvement/responsibility |
31
|
32
|
| More security at schools |
14
|
16
|
| Better gun control/laws/issues |
11
|
12
|
| Better education/students/parents |
6
|
3
|
| Control media violence/video games/Internet |
5
|
4
|
| Lift laws on disciplining children |
4
|
6
|
| Put prayer back in school/home |
3
|
3
|
| Raise morals/people’s standards |
3
|
3
|
| Better communication between students/parents/teachers |
3
|
4
|
| Monitor/watch students more closely |
3
|
--
|
| Stop bullies/bullying |
2
|
--
|
| More counselors/counseling/teachers |
2
|
6
|
| Stricter punishment on children/laws |
2
|
2
|
| Report threats/take threats more
seriously |
1
|
--
|
| Dress codes/uniforms |
*
|
1
|
| |
|
|
| None |
1
|
1
|
| Other |
2
|
4
|
| No opinion |
7
|
3
|
| |
|
|
| ^ WORDING: Next we have some questions
about the shooting at the Littleton, Colorado high school where 2 students
killed 12 of their classmates and one teacher. In
your opinion, what is the single most important thing that could be done
to prevent another incidence of school shootings by students, like the
one in Littleton? |
How important do you think
each of the following is as a cause of the school shootings that have been
occurring -- extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not
too important, or not at all important? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
A. The home life students
have today, including their relationship with their parents
| |
Extremely important
|
Very important
|
Somewhat important
|
Not too important
|
Not at all important
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 26-28 |
57
|
35
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
B. Bullying and teasing
of students at school
| |
Extremely important
|
Very important
|
Somewhat important
|
Not too important
|
Not at all important
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 26-28 |
29
|
33
|
23
|
8
|
5
|
2
|
C. The portrayal of violence
and use of guns in today’s entertainment and music
| |
Extremely important
|
Very important
|
Somewhat important
|
Not too important
|
Not at all important
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 26-28 |
38
|
30
|
17
|
7
|
6
|
2
|
D. The coverage given
to school shootings by the news media
| |
Extremely important
|
Very important
|
Somewhat important
|
Not too important
|
Not at all important
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 26-28 |
32
|
32
|
23
|
7
|
3
|
3
|
E. The availability and
ease of obtaining guns by students
| |
Extremely important
|
Very important
|
Somewhat important
|
Not too important
|
Not at all important
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 26-28 |
46
|
31
|
10
|
6
|
5
|
2
|
F. The way schools discipline
their students
| |
Extremely important
|
Very important
|
Somewhat important
|
Not too important
|
Not at all important
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 26-28 |
31
|
36
|
17
|
8
|
3
|
5
|
G. The size of high schools
today in terms of the number of students who attend
| |
Extremely important
|
Very important
|
Somewhat important
|
Not too important
|
Not at all important
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 26-28 |
20
|
29
|
26
|
15
|
6
|
4
|
H. The fact that families
move around and the students don’t have roots in one specific town
| |
Extremely important
|
Very important
|
Somewhat important
|
Not too important
|
Not at all important
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 26-28 |
17
|
26
|
28
|
18
|
9
|
2
|
SUMMARY TABLE OF IMPORTANCE
2001 Mar 26-28
(sorted by "extremely") |
Extremely
|
Very
|
Somewhat
|
% Important
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The home life students
have today, including their relationship with their parents |
57
|
35
|
4
|
96
|
| The availability
and ease of obtaining guns by students |
46
|
31
|
10
|
87
|
| The portrayal of
violence and use of guns in today’s entertainment and music |
38
|
30
|
17
|
85
|
| The coverage given
to school shootings by the news media |
32
|
32
|
23
|
87
|
| The way schools
discipline their students |
31
|
36
|
17
|
84
|
| Bullying and teasing
of students at school |
29
|
33
|
23
|
85
|
| The size of high
schools today in terms of the number of students who attend |
20
|
29
|
26
|
78
|
| The fact that families
move around and the students don’t have roots in one specific town |
17
|
26
|
28
|
71
|
Overall, do you feel the
news media have acted responsibly or irresponsibly in covering the recent
school shootings?
|
Responsibly
|
Irresponsibly
|
No opinion
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar
26-28 |
57
|
37
|
6
|
| 1999 Apr
26-27 ^ |
67
|
29
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
| ^ |
WORDING:
Overall, do you feel the news media have acted responsibly or irresponsibly
in this situation? (Columbine/Littleton shooting) |
Thinking about your oldest
child, when he or she is at school, do you fear for his or her physical
safety?
BASED ON -- 299 -- K-12
PARENTS; ±6 PCT. PTS.
| |
Yes, fear
|
No, do not
|
No opinion
|
| |
%
|
%
|
%
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 9-11 |
45
|
54
|
1
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2000 Aug 24-27 |
26
|
74
|
0
|
| 2000 Apr 7-9 |
43
|
57
|
0
|
| 1999 Aug 24-26 |
47
|
53
|
*
|
| 1999 May 21-23 |
52
|
47
|
1
|
| 1999 Apr 26-27 |
49
|
51
|
*
|
| 1999 Apr 21 |
55
|
45
|
0
|
| 1998 Jun 5-7 |
37
|
62
|
1
|
| 1977^ |
24
|
70
|
6
|
| |
|
|
|
| ^ Gallup for Kettering Foundation |
| * Less than 0.5% |
Have any of your school-aged children expressed any
worry or concern about feeling unsafe at their school when they go to school?
BASED ON -- 299 -- K-12 PARENTS; ±6 PCT. PTS.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001
Mar 9-11 |
22
|
77
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
| 2000
Aug 24-27 ^ |
8
|
92
|
*
|
| 1999
Aug 24-26 ^ |
18
|
82
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
| ^ |
WORDING:
Have any of your school-aged children expressed any worry or concern about
feeling unsafe at their school when they go back to school this fall? |
| * Less than 0.5% |
In your opinion, how likely is it that these kinds
of shootings could happen in your community, is it -- very likely, somewhat
likely, somewhat unlikely, or very unlikely?
|
Very
likely
|
Somewhat likely
|
Somewhat unlikely
|
Very
unlikely
|
No
opinion
|
| |
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 9-11 |
31
|
34
|
20
|
13
|
2
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2000 Apr 7-9 ^ |
30
|
36
|
18
|
13
|
3
|
| 1999 May 21-23 ^ |
37
|
37
|
14
|
11
|
1
|
| 1999 Apr 21 † |
30
|
38
|
14
|
15
|
3
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| ^ |
WORDING: As you may
know, it has been nearly one year since the shooting at Columbine High
School, the Littleton, Colorado school where 2 students killed 12 of their
classmates and one teacher [April 20, 1999]. In your opinion, how likely
is it that these kinds of shootings could happen in your community, is
it very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely, or very unlikely? |
| † |
WORDING: Next we have
some questions about the shooting at the Littleton, Colorado high school
[April 20, 1999] where 15 students were killed by two of their classmates.
In your opinion, how likely is it that these kinds of shootings could happen
in your community, is it very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely,
or very unlikely? [Based on one-night poll.] |
Which of the following statements comes closer to your
view of shootings like the recent ones that have occurred in schools --
[ROTATED: they are indications that there is something seriously wrong
in the country today (or) they are isolated incidents that do not indicate
anything about the country in general]?
|
Something seriously wrong
|
Isolated
incidents
|
OTHER (vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Mar 9-11 |
75%
|
22
|
1
|
2
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| 1999 Apr 21 ^ |
79%
|
17
|
1
|
3
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| ^ |
WORDING: Which of
the following statements comes closer to your view of shootings like the
one in Colorado -- they are indications that there is something seriously
wrong in the country today, or they are isolated incidents that do not
indicate anything about the country in general? [Based on one-night poll.] |
| (vol.) Volunteered response |
Which of the following statements comes closer to your
overall view -- [ROTATED: government and society can take action that will
be effective in preventing shootings like the recent ones in schools from
happening again (or) shootings like the recent ones in schools will happen
again regardless of what action is taken by government and society]?
|
Government/society can take action
|
Will happen again
regardless
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001
Mar 9-11 |
49
|
47
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
| 2000
Apr 7-9 ^ |
47
|
49
|
4
|
| 1999
Apr 21 † |
53
|
43
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
| ^ |
WORDING:
(As you may know, it has been nearly one year since the shooting at Columbine
High School, the Littleton, Colorado school where 2 students killed 12
of their classmates and one teacher.) Which of the following statements
comes closer to your overall view -- government and society can take action
that will be effective in preventing shootings like the one in Colorado
from happening again (or) shootings like the one in Colorado will happen
again regardless of what action is taken by government and society? |
| † |
WORDING:
Which of the following statements comes closer to your overall view --
government and society can take action that will be effective in preventing
shootings like the one in [Littleton] Colorado [April 20, 1999] from happening
again (or) shootings like the one in Colorado will happen again regardless
of what action is taken by government and society? [Based on one-night
poll.] |
NEXT TWO QUESTION ROTATE
Next I'm going to read a variety of proposals concerning
religion and public schools. For each one, please tell me whether you would
generally favor or oppose it. First, ... Next, ... [RANDOM ORDER]
[BASED ON – 529 – NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±4
PCT. PTS.]
-
Making public school facilities available after school
hours for use by student religious groups
|
Favor
|
Oppose
|
No opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Feb 9-11 |
72
|
26
|
2
|
| 1999 Jun 25-27 |
78
|
21
|
1
|
B. Allowing daily prayer to be spoken in the classroom
|
Favor
|
Oppose
|
No opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Feb 9-11 |
66
|
34
|
*
|
| 2000 Sep 11-13 |
68
|
30
|
2
|
| 1999 Jun 25-27 |
70
|
28
|
2
|
C. Allowing students to say prayers at graduation ceremonies
as part of the official program
|
Favor
|
Oppose
|
No opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Feb 9-11 |
80
|
20
|
*
|
| 2000 Sep 11-13 |
77
|
21
|
2
|
| 1999 Jun 25-27 |
83
|
17
|
*
|
Thinking about the presence that religion currently
has in public schools in this country, do you think religion has – [ROTATED:
too much of a presence in public schools, about the right amount, (or)
too little of a presence in public schools]?
[BASED ON – 487 -- NATIONAL
ADULTS IN FORM B; ±4 PCT. PTS.]
|
Too much
of a presence
|
About the
right amount
|
Too little
of a presence
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Feb 9-11 |
7
|
28
|
63
|
2
|
Do you think Bush will or will not be able to pass
the school voucher program that he has proposed?
|
Will
|
Will not
|
No opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
31
|
53
|
16
|
How would you rate the job the United States’ public
school system is doing in educating our young people -- excellent, good,
only fair, or poor?
| |
Excellent
|
Good
|
Only fair
|
Poor
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
6
|
31
|
38
|
24
|
1
|
Please tell me how much each of the following proposals
would improve public schools -- a great deal, fair amount, not much, or
not at all? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
A. Providing more federal money for programs specified
by the federal government
| |
A great
deal
|
Fair
amount
|
Not
much
|
Not
at all
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
29
|
37
|
19
|
11
|
4
|
B. Providing more federal money for local school districts
to use as they see fit
| |
A great
deal
|
Fair
amount
|
Not
much
|
Not
at all
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
40
|
40
|
12
|
7
|
1
|
C. Paying teachers better
| |
A great
deal
|
Fair
amount
|
Not
much
|
Not
at all
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
52
|
32
|
10
|
4
|
2
|
D. Using standardized tests to hold schools accountable
| |
A great
deal
|
Fair
amount
|
Not
much
|
Not
at all
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
38
|
35
|
15
|
9
|
3
|
E. Providing school vouchers
| |
A great
deal
|
Fair
amount
|
Not
much
|
Not
at all
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
21
|
33
|
18
|
20
|
8
|
F. Providing charter schools
| |
A great
deal
|
Fair
amount
|
Not
much
|
Not
at all
|
No
opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
17
|
36
|
21
|
12
|
14
|
"A GREAT DEAL/FAIR AMOUNT" SUMMARY
| |
A great deal
|
Fair
amount
|
A great deal/
Fair amount
|
| |
|
|
|
| Paying teachers better |
52
|
32
|
84
|
| Providing more federal money for
local school districts to use as they see fit |
40
|
40
|
80
|
| Using standardized tests to hold
schools accountable |
38
|
35
|
73
|
| Providing more federal money for
programs specified by the federal government |
29
|
37
|
66
|
| Providing school vouchers |
21
|
33
|
54
|
| Providing charter schools |
17
|
36
|
53
|
NEXT TWO QUESTIONS SPLIT SAMPLED
Should public school students be required to pass a
standardized test in order to be promoted to the next grade, or not?
[BASED ON -- 514 -- NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±4
PCT. PTS.]
|
Yes, should be
|
No, should not
|
No opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
77
|
20
|
3
|
Do you think it is fair or unfair to use a single standardized
test to determine what a student knows or has achieved?
[BASED ON -- 504 -- NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B; ±5
PCT. PTS.]
|
Fair
|
Unfair
|
No opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
45
|
53
|
2
|
Do you think standardized tests are or are not an accurate
way to measure whether students have learned what they need to in order
to pass to the next grade?
|
Are
|
Are not
|
No opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
54
|
41
|
5
|
If cost were not a factor, where would you prefer to
send a child of yours -- to a public school or to a private or parochial
school? [IF NO CHILD: Suppose you did have a school-age child?]
|
Public school
|
Private/parochial school
|
No opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
44
|
55
|
1
|
| 1993 Jan 8-11 |
44
|
55
|
1
|
Do you think that colleges should or should not be
allowed to consider race as a factor in student admission decisions?
|
Yes, should
|
No, should not
|
No opinion
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2001 Jan 5-7 |
11
|
87
|
2
|
|
