EMBARGOED for release Feb. 15, 2000 (12:01 a.m.)
Research – Straight Talk From Americans – 2000
A National Survey for the Pew Center for Civic Journalism conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates.
TOPLINE SURVEY RESULTS
[To Press Release >>]
TOPLINE RESULTS PART THREE (Questions 25- D11)
National and Regional Survey Results by question.
25. Now I’d like you to rate the quality of the local public schools in your area. Please tell me if you think they are doing an excellent job, a good job, a fair job, or a poor job. (First/How about) (INSERT ITEMS. DO NOT ROTATE)-are they doing an excellent job, a good job, only a fair job, or a poor job?
|
|
Excellent |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Can’t rate |
DK/ Ref. |
| a. Local public elementary schools | ||||||
|
National |
23 |
37 |
19 |
4 |
14 |
3 |
|
Tampa |
13 |
34 |
22 |
7 |
22 |
3 |
|
Philadelphia |
21 |
34 |
22 |
10 |
11 |
2 |
|
Denver |
12 |
35 |
26 |
8 |
16 |
4 |
|
San Francisco |
14 |
35 |
19 |
11 |
17 |
4 |
| b. Local public middle, junior high and high schools | ||||||
|
National |
16 |
32 |
24 |
10 |
16 |
3 |
|
Tampa |
8 |
31 |
24 |
11 |
23 |
2 |
|
Philadelphia |
16 |
30 |
20 |
18 |
13 |
3 |
|
Denver |
9 |
29 |
24 |
11 |
21 |
5 |
|
San Francisco |
11 |
21 |
25 |
15 |
23 |
5 |
Based on those who are parents of school age children
26. What about the school(s) your child (your children) attend? Overall, how satisfied are you with the school(s) your child (children) attend? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied or not at all satisfied?
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
52 |
Very satisfied |
52 |
58 |
49 |
50 |
|
35 |
Somewhat satisfied |
33 |
32 |
40 |
35 |
|
6 |
Not too satisfied |
9 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
|
4 |
Not at all satisfied |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
|
1 |
(DO NOT READ)Other/Can’t rate |
2 |
1 |
2 |
* |
|
* |
(DO NOT READ) Don’t know/Refused |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
(n=291) |
|
(n=141) |
(n=142) |
(n=122) |
(n=112) |
NOTE: An asterisk (*) means less than .5 percent gave this answer.
27. Based on your own experiences or those of people you know who have children, do you think the local public schools in your area have a great need, some need, or no need to… (READ AND ROTATE) (Next/And how about) do you think the local public schools have a great need, some need or no need at all to…
|
|
Great need |
Some need |
No need |
DK/ Ref. |
| a. Improve the quality of teachers | ||||
|
National |
28 |
42 |
19 |
11 |
|
Tampa |
36 |
37 |
12 |
16 |
|
Philadelphia |
33 |
39 |
18 |
10 |
|
Denver |
33 |
41 |
14 |
12 |
|
San Francisco |
41 |
35 |
11 |
13 |
| b. Reduce class sizes | ||||
|
National |
33 |
32 |
21 |
13 |
|
Tampa |
49 |
26 |
11 |
15 |
|
Philadelphia |
36 |
30 |
22 |
12 |
|
Denver |
45 |
32 |
10 |
13 |
|
San Francisco |
42 |
30 |
13 |
15 |
| c. Provide more opportunities for parents to participate in the learning process | ||||
|
National |
30 |
39 |
19 |
11 |
|
Tampa |
37 |
32 |
12 |
19 |
|
Philadelphia |
41 |
34 |
18 |
8 |
|
Denver |
32 |
37 |
17 |
14 |
|
San Francisco |
40 |
36 |
12 |
13 |
| d. Update resources for teaching such as books, computers, and other materials | ||||
|
National |
35 |
35 |
17 |
13 |
|
Tampa |
48 |
26 |
10 |
16 |
|
Philadelphia |
39 |
34 |
18 |
9 |
|
Denver |
42 |
35 |
13 |
10 |
|
San Francisco |
55 |
26 |
7 |
12 |
28. I’m going to read you two statements some people have made about what should be taught in public schools. Please tell me if the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your view, even if neither one is exactly right. Here are the statements… (READ AND ROTATE STATEMENTS)IF NECESSARY: Which one comes closer to your view?
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
75 |
Schools should teach values, respect and courtesy in addition to the traditional academic subjects (OR) |
76 |
72 |
71 |
74 |
|
22 |
Schools should stick to teaching academic subjects and leave teaching values to parents. (OR) |
19 |
25 |
25 |
22 |
|
1 |
(DO NOT READ)Neither |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
2 |
(DO NOT READ)Don’t know/Refused |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
29. Now I’m going to read you two more statements about public schools. Again, please tell me if the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your view, even if neither one is exactly right. Here are the statements… (READ AND ROTATE STATEMENTS) IF NECESSARY: Which one comes closer to your view?
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
77 |
All the students have an equal chance to get a good education in our local public schools, regardless of race (OR) |
77 |
75 |
67 |
64 |
|
17 |
Students who are black, Hispanic or other minorities do NOT have as good a chance to get a good education in the local public schools; (OR) |
15 |
20 |
25 |
27 |
|
1 |
(DO NOT READ)Neither |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
|
1 |
(DO NOT READ)No experience/No minorities in community |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
4 |
(DO NOT READ)Don’t know/Refused |
4 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
30. Thinking about the local government in your area, would you say that… (READ AND ROTATE CATEGORIES 1 & 2)
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
69 |
The local government treats everyone the same, regardless of race; (or) |
64 |
66 |
68 |
59 |
|
20 |
The local government unfairly treat blacks, Hispanics and other minorities more harshly than others; (or) |
23 |
22 |
23 |
27 |
|
3 |
(DO NOT READ)Neither |
4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
3 |
(DO NOT READ)No experience/No minorities in community |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
|
5 |
(DO NOT READ)Don’t know/Refused |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
31. Thinking about the local news media in your area, would you say that … (READ AND ROTATE CATEGORIES 1 & 2)
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
69 |
The news media treats everyone the same, regardless of race; (or) |
67 |
59 |
67 |
59 |
|
21 |
The news media unfairly runs too many negative stories about blacks, Hispanics and other minorities; (or) |
25 |
31 |
25 |
32 |
|
2 |
(DO NOT READ)Neither |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
|
1 |
(DO NOT READ)No experience/No minorities in community |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
6 |
(DO NOT READ)Don’t know/Refused |
5 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
32. Thinking about the police in your area, would you say that… (READ AND ROTATE CATEGORIES 1 & 2)
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
59 |
The police treat everyone the same, regardless of race; (or) |
61 |
55 |
55 |
47 |
|
28 |
The police unfairly treat blacks, Hispanics and other minorities more harshly than others; (or) |
26 |
33 |
30 |
40 |
|
2 |
(DO NOT READ)Neither/Other |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
(DO NOT READ)No experience/No minorities in community |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|
9 |
(DO NOT READ)Don’t know/Refused |
9 |
5 |
8 |
7 |
Now I have a few questions about where you get news and information…
33. How often do you… (READ AND ROTATE)-every day, a few times a week, once a week, less than once a week, or never?
|
|
Every day |
A few times a week |
Once a week |
Less than once a week |
Never |
DK/ Ref. |
| a. Read a LOCAL daily newspaper | ||||||
|
National |
44 |
21 |
16 |
7 |
11 |
1 |
|
Tampa |
47 |
25 |
13 |
5 |
10 |
* |
|
Philadelphia |
47 |
19 |
14 |
7 |
12 |
0 |
|
Denver |
52 |
20 |
13 |
7 |
8 |
0 |
|
San Francisco |
41 |
22 |
16 |
6 |
14 |
* |
| b. Watch NATIONAL NETWORK television news (IF NECESSARY: “such as the national news from ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC) | ||||||
|
National |
48 |
27 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
1 |
|
Tampa |
54 |
22 |
9 |
6 |
7 |
* |
|
Philadelphia |
48 |
26 |
11 |
6 |
9 |
0 |
|
Denver |
44 |
27 |
12 |
7 |
11 |
0 |
|
San Francisco |
42 |
30 |
10 |
7 |
11 |
* |
| c. Watch LOCAL TV news | ||||||
|
National |
59 |
21 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
1 |
|
Tampa |
67 |
20 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
* |
|
Philadelphia |
62 |
21 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
* |
|
Denver |
57 |
23 |
8 |
7 |
5 |
0 |
|
San Francisco |
52 |
25 |
9 |
4 |
9 |
* |
| d. Go online to access the Internet for news, e-mail or other reasons? | ||||||
|
National |
24 |
12 |
5 |
6 |
52 |
1 |
|
Tampa |
24 |
10 |
4 |
3 |
59 |
* |
|
Philadelphia |
21 |
13 |
7 |
5 |
54 |
0 |
|
Denver |
32 |
16 |
5 |
6 |
42 |
0 |
|
San Francisco |
31 |
12 |
6 |
6 |
44 |
* |
DEMOGRAPHICS
Finally, I have just a few questions so we can describe the people who took part in our survey…
D5. Are you married, living as married, widowed, divorced, separated, or have you never been married?
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
53 |
Married |
50 |
48 |
46 |
44 |
|
3 |
Living as married |
5 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
|
9 |
Widowed |
10 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
|
11 |
Divorced |
12 |
10 |
14 |
14 |
|
2 |
Separated |
4 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
|
21 |
Never married |
19 |
26 |
25 |
28 |
|
* |
Refused |
1 |
0 |
* |
* |
Based on those who are married or living as married
D6. Is your (husband/wife/partner) NOW employed full-time, part-time, retired, or not employed for pay?
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
65 |
Employed full-time |
56 |
63 |
69 |
63 |
|
9 |
Employed part-time |
7 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
|
15 |
Retired |
28 |
17 |
11 |
15 |
|
9 |
Not employed |
6 |
8 |
7 |
11 |
|
1 |
Disabled (VOL.) |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
* |
Student (VOL.) |
0 |
* |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
Other (VOL.) |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
0 |
Don’t know |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
* |
Refused |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
(n=572) |
|
(n=283) |
(n=254) |
(n=258) |
(n=249) |
D7. What is your age?
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
23 |
18 to 29 |
18 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
|
18 |
30 to 39 |
18 |
22 |
24 |
24 |
|
19 |
40 to 49 |
16 |
21 |
21 |
19 |
|
21 |
50 to 64 |
20 |
18 |
20 |
19 |
|
16 |
65 or older |
25 |
17 |
13 |
15 |
|
2 |
Refused |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
D8. What is the last grade or class you completed in school? (DO NOT READ)
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
4 |
None, or grade 1 to 8 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
* |
|
10 |
High school incomplete (Grades 9-11) |
20 |
13 |
11 |
11 |
|
33 |
High school graduate, Grade 12, or GED certificate |
26 |
35 |
24 |
20 |
|
4 |
Business, technical, or vocational school AFTER high school |
5 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
24 |
Some college or university work, but no four-year degree |
28 |
24 |
33 |
34 |
|
17 |
College or university graduate (BA, BS or other four-year degree received) |
14 |
15 |
19 |
21 |
|
7 |
Post graduate or professional schooling after college (including work towards an MA, MS, Ph.D., JD, DDS, or MD degree) |
4 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
* |
Refused |
* |
* |
* |
* |
D9. Are you of Hispanic or Latino background, such as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban or other Spanish background?
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
7 |
Yes |
7 |
4 |
8 |
17 |
|
93 |
No |
92 |
96 |
92 |
83 |
|
* |
Refused |
* |
0 |
0 |
* |
D10. What is your race? Are you white, black, Asian, American Indian or some other race?
IF R SAYS HISPANIC OR LATINO, PROBE: Do you consider yourself a WHITE (Hispanic/Latino) or a BLACK (Hispanic/Latino)? IF R DOES NOT SAY WHITE, BLACK OR ONE OF THE RACE CATEGORIES LISTED, RECORD AS “OTHER”
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
84 |
White |
87 |
76 |
90 |
68 |
|
11 |
Black or African-American |
9 |
20 |
5 |
9 |
|
1 |
Asian or Pacific Islander |
* |
1 |
1 |
10 |
|
1 |
American Indian or Alaskan Native |
1 |
* |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
Mixed-race |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
2 |
Other—SPECIFY |
1 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
|
* |
Don’t know |
0 |
0 |
1 |
* |
|
1 |
Refused |
1 |
1 |
* |
2 |
D11. Approximately what is your total family income before taxes – just tell me when I get to the right category. (READ)
|
National |
Tampa |
Philadelphia |
Denver |
San Francisco |
|
|
5 |
Less than $10,000 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
|
11 |
$10,000 to under $20,000 |
12 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
|
15 |
$20,000 to under $30,000 |
21 |
11 |
11 |
9 |
|
14 |
$30,000 to under $40,000 |
14 |
14 |
13 |
14 |
|
18 |
$40,000 to under $60,000 |
14 |
19 |
20 |
19 |
|
15 |
$60,000 to under $100,000 |
14 |
17 |
20 |
17 |
|
6 |
$100,000 or over |
5 |
10 |
10 |
14 |
|
5 |
Don’t know |
4 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
|
10 |
Refused |
9 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
END OF INTERVIEW: Thank you very much for taking the time to answer the questions on this survey. We really appreciate it. Have a nice day/evening.
[Table of Contents] [National Report] [Tampa Report] [Philadelphia Report]
[Denver Report] [San Francisco Report] [Topline Results] [Press Release]