Physical Contact -- Physical contact in schools,
particularly student-student, has become a tricky issue of
late. In terms of adults touching children, do you believe
that:
A -- Due to past abuses, and the current atmosphere,
teachers should be completely undemonstrative. No matter
what the intention, contact can be misinterpreted.
B -- Not touching children under any circumstances is akin
to neglect, especially for very young children who might
pick up the message that expressions of warmth are wrong.
C -- Teachers should generally be restrained, but should use
their judgement and consider the following in each situation
where touching might occur: "Would I allow someone I wasn't
close with to touch *me* in that way?"
D -- I don't have an opinion on this issue.
The Results:
Detracking -- Over the past few years, many schools have
moved toward "detracking." That is, they no longer
categorize students based on ability. What do you think
about detracking?
A -- It's a good idea. Intelligence is developmental, not
fixed, and cannot necessarily be measured by an I.Q. score,
especially when it comes to young children. Diversity in the
classroom promotes learning for *all* students.
B -- It is not a good idea. To help each child achieve his
own potential, we need to separate students based on their
capacity to learn. Otherwise, the slow students will be left
behind, and the bright students will not reach their
potential.
C -- Detracking won't automatically solve the problems
plaguing schools today, but it may begin to incite
much-needed change in the philosophy and structure of the
current school system.
D -- I don't have an opinion on this issue.
The Results:
Teacher Pay -- A November 1996 report from the National
Center for Education Statistics says that "teacher salaries
tend to be low relative to those earned by similarly
qualified individuals in other professions." You think that
teacher pay:
A -- Is grossly inadequate. For one thing, the time a
teacher spends in class is only about 3/4 of his or her work
week. For another, teachers are responsible for molding the
nation's youth, and teacher pay should reflect the
importance of this task.
B -- Is generally adequate. Teachers work shorter days and
get summer vacations; they really shouldn't earn as much as
executives who work longer hours and only get two weeks of
vacation.
C -- Is adequate in some regions of the country, like the
Northeast, for example, but inadequate in other regions,
such as the South.
D -- I don't have an opinion on this issue.
The Results:
