Despite the concern among adults over the quality of precollegiate education, a new nationwide survey indicates that most schoolchildren are satisfied with the instruction they receive.
According to the survey, 48 percent of the 1,000 students aged 8-to-17 who were interviewed said their schools deserved a grade of “B’’ for educational quality. Another 29 percent said their schools rated an “A.’' Overall, 84 percent of the children said they were satisfied with their school.
The poll, which was released earlier this month, is one of only a few designed to comprehensively gauge the attitudes of young people, according to John F. Walsh, president of the American Chicle Group of the Warner-Lambert Company. The company commissioned The Roper Organization Inc. to conduct the survey, which also questioned children on their attitudes toward their families and social issues, and on their expectations for the future.
When asked what made them “feel good,’' 78 percent of the children listed their schools. Ninety-five percent listed “being an American,’' and 92 percent answered “being with friends.’'
Kidnapping led the respondents list of concerns, with 76 percent of the children saying they were “very concerned’’ about the threat. The spread of AIDS and the possibility of nuclear war were tied for second, with 65 percent saying they were “very concerned’’ about those threats.
When asked how their schools could be improved, 60 percent of the children said more modern equipment, such as computers and video-cassette recorders, would help. Forty-seven percent cited a need to stress the teaching of basic skills, and 46 percent said greater parental involvement was needed.
“Better textbooks’’ and “better teachers’’ were cited, respectively, by 40 percent and 37 percent of the group.--D.V.
