The 2008 Education Next-PEPG Survey

School Discipline

To the best of your knowledge, how serious are problems like fighting and property destruction at your local public schools?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Serious problem	15	%	12	%	26	%	21	%	12	%
Somewhat of a problem	39		40		36		45		40
Not much of a problem	40		42		33		32		38
Not a problem	6		7		6		2		9

Some people say that principals should be the final authority on disciplinary matters. Other people say that students who have been suspended from school have a right to appeal their punishment to the local school board. Which do you think is preferable?

Religion*

*Note: For questions in this category responses of those who identified themselves as “Born Again”are indicated.

Do you think the public schools in your community generally promote the values that youthink are most important, or do you think that the values emphasized at school oftencome into conflict with your own?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers		Born Again
Always promote my values	4	%	2	%	9	%	5	%	6	%	4	%
Sometimes promote my values	51		51		51		50		59		43
School values sometimes come into conflict with mine	36		36		31		41		28		38
School values often come into conflict with mine	10		11		9		4		7		14

In some public school districts, parents have requested that some time in each day be set aside for silent prayer and reflection. What do you think about this proposal?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers		Born Again
Completely support	34	%	33	%	49	%	33	%	28	%	56	%
Somewhat support	16		16		15		11		16		17
Neither support nor oppose	28		27		25		33		25		20
Somewhat oppose	8		9		2		10		11		3
Completely oppose	14		16		8		13		21		3

Each respondent was randomly assigned to one of the following five questions:

A. How would you feel about a group of religious students organizing an after-school club at your local public school?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers		Born Again
Completely favor	42	%	40	%	52	%	56	%	53	%	68	%
Somewhat favor	16		17		27		6		10		17
Neither favor nor oppose	31		33		15		28		26		13
Somewhat oppose	6		6		0		4		3		2
Completely oppose	4		4		6		6		8		0

B. How would you feel about a group of Mormon students organizing an after-school club atyour local public school?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers		Born Again
Completely favor	28	%	30	%	21	%	24	%	31	%	30	%
Somewhat favor	15		16		12		10		16		14
Neither favor nor oppose	43		42		48		36		43		43
Somewhat oppose	4		3		11		9		6		5
Completely oppose	10		9		8		21		4		7

C. How would you feel about a group of Muslim students organizing an after-school club atyour local public school?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers		Born Again
Completely favor	16	%	15	%	15	%	22	%	27	%	13	%
Somewhat favor	11		11		13		2		19		12
Neither favor nor oppose	50		50		47		55		34		44
Somewhat oppose	8		10		0		8		6		7
Completely oppose	15		15		25		13		13		23

D. How would you feel about a group of atheist students organizing an after-school club atyour local public school?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers		Born Again
Completely favor	11	%	10	%	14	%	8	%	22	%	11	%
Somewhat favor	7		9		1		3		7		7
Neither favor nor oppose	53		49		53		70		41		47
Somewhat oppose	11		12		14		3		7		12
Completely oppose	18		20		18		17		23		23

E. How would you feel about a group of Evangelical students organizing an after-schoolclub at your local public school?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers		Born Again
Completely favor	31	%	32	%	35	%	23	%	34	%	51	%
Somewhat favor	17		16		13		19		18		16
Neither favor nor oppose	41		42		43		40		28		29
Somewhat oppose	4		5		2		3		8		3
Completely oppose	7		6		7		15		11		2

School Board Politics

To the best of your knowledge, are members of your local school board elected or appointed by another public official such as a mayor?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Elected	82	%	85	%	72	%	77	%	90	%
Appointed	18		15		28		23		10

If respondents answered “Elected” to the preceeding question they were asked the following:

Many school board elections are held at a time different from other elections; and very little information is easily available about the candidates in most school board elections. As a result, only a small fraction of the American public tends to vote in these elections. Do you remember for sure whether you voted in the last school board election?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Voted	34	%	36	%	29	%	26	%	55	%
Did not vote	42		41		47		43		30
Ineligible	5		4		4		7		3
Don’t know, can’t remember	19		18		20		24		12

Each respondent was randomly assigned to one of the following four questions:

A. Imagine a school board candidate who proposes shifting funds from after-school sports programs to after-school academic programs. Would you vote for such a candidate?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Yes	63	%	63	%	54	%	69	%	67	%
No	37		37		46		31		33

B. Imagine a school board candidate who proposes shifting funds from after-school sports programs to after-school academic programs. This candidate is supported by the local teachers union. Would you vote for such a candidate?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Yes	66	%	65	%	59	%	67	%	65	%
No	34		35		41		33		35

C. Imagine a school board candidate who proposes shifting funds from after-school sports programs to after-school academic programs. This candidate is supported by the local Parent Teacher Association. Would you vote for such a candidate?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Yes	61	%	60	%	50	%	69	%	70	%
No	39		40		50		31		30

D. Imagine a school board candidate who proposes shifting funds from after-school sports programs to after-school academic programs. This candidate is supported by local business leaders. Would you vote for such a candidate?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Yes	64	%	64	%	52	%	70	%	59	%
No	36		36		48		30		41

Presidential Election

In the upcoming presidential election, do you expect to vote for the Democratic candidate, the Republican candidate, or someone from a different party?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Democrat	52	%	45	%	88	%	64	%	60	%
Republican	37		45		5		23		36
Someone from different party	11		10		7		12		5

How strong is your support for a candidate from this party?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Very strong	31	%	27	%	57	%	35	%	37	%
Strong	22		22		21		21		27
Somewhat strong	27		28		16		29		21
Not strong at all	20		23		6		14		14

Additional Information

Do you know any students who have taken a course for middle or high school credit over the internet?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Yes	12	%	12	%	6	%	14	%	31	%
No	88		88		94		86		69

If respondents answered “Yes” to the preceeding question they were asked the following:

Have any of your own children ever taken a course for middle or high school credit over the internet?

			Racial / Ethnic Identity
	National		White		African American		Hispanic		Public School Teachers
Yes	16	%	14	%	16	%	14	%	64	%
No	84		86		84		86		36

The 2008 Education Next-PEPG Survey

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