Editorial

EDUCATION POLLING

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A recent public opinion survey on attitudes toward public education in Missouri contained many findings, some interesting, some provocative and some highly dubious. "Committed to Change: Missouri Citizens and Public Education" is the name of a study commissioned by the self-styled "Missouri Partnership for Outstanding Schools," which has evolved into a private-sector cheering section for whatever agenda is currently being pursued by the education bureaucrats at the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Jefferson City.

The partnership commissioned a New York-based outfit called Public Agenda, founded 20 years ago by Cyrus Vance, secretary of state during the administration of President Jimmy Carter, to do the polling. Those surveyed included, according to a partnership press release, "1,356 Missourians, including 500 randomly selected members of the general public, 200 African-Americans, 200 parents, 245 educators and 211 community leaders."

At first glance the results seem unremarkable. "Missourians are in almost complete agreement about the need for academic standards," says the survey's summary. "Ninety-two percent of the public ... favor clear guidelines on what kids should learn and teachers should teach in every major subject so the kids and teachers will know what to aim for." Those who commissioned this study doubtless take this commonplace observation to be an endorsement of the "standards" the state department has just put in place, when in fact no such endorsement of the state board's vague and inadequate "standards" can be inferred from so general a broad-brush statement.

Missourians believe that "the top priorities for public schools should be providing a safe learning environment, providing a structure of discipline that includes teaching respect for adults ... and making sure students graduate having at least mastered basic skills such as reading, writing, arithmetic and ... computer technology." Or again: "Missourians favor placing more emphasis on teaching knowledge and skills relevant to the job market, like computers, math and science." More commonplace observations.

The survey's most striking finding reveals a gulf between the view educators take of how they are performing versus that of the general public's attitude toward the job our schools are doing -- or aren't doing. Again, from the survey summary, this gentle phrasing: "Although the general public gives mixed reviews of the schools' ability to meet these responsibilities, there seems to be significant disagreement on that point between community leaders and educators. This disagreement suggests the need for more dialogue between all parties." That's Eduspeak for "We've got a problem."

Indeed they do. The numbers are striking: "By a 2-1 majority (63-31 percent), Missouri educators believe a high school diploma is a guarantee that a student has learned the basics. Missouri leaders disagree. They do not believe this to be the case by a similar 2-1 majority (67-31 percent)." The latter group comprises the folks who try to hire qualified workers, only to find, far too often, that applicants are woefully deficient in basics they used to be able to take for granted. Not to worry, though: The partnership's answer to any deficiency is, repeatedly, "more dialogue between all parties."

Missourians are sharply divided (51 percent opposed, 46 percent in favor) on whether we need the "school-based clinics" of which modern education reformers are so enamored. Query: If we are sharply divided, wouldn't that be a reason not to go down the road toward condom-dispensing family planning clinics until schools mastered their basic academic mission?

On and on it goes. Only 13 percent of the public supports school choice, or parental freedom in education, we are told, although other polls have revealed backing in the 70 percent range in Missouri as in other states. Must have something to do with how the question is phrased.

So we are supposed to have more dialogue. The partnership might take this recommendation to Dr. Bob Bartman, commissioner of DESE, who "doesn't do dialogue," but rather lectures his charges under carefully controlled conditions. Until then, no amount of fancy polls and smooth-sounding press releases wil change anything.