(Oklahoma City) - A new online poll of teachers indicates they disagree with recent reports suggesting that boys and girls learn differently. Although 22 percent of teachers felt that boys and girls "definitely learn differently," nearly twice as many said that, with a balanced approach, boys and girls should be equally successful. Another 30 percent responded that even if there are not gender-based differences in learning, boys are often louder and get more attention.

"Given the recent headlines about this issue, we were surprised at how strongly teachers felt about equality in the classroom," said Rob York, president of Education World, which conducted the poll. "More than seventy percent said that there aren't any inherent differences in the way male and female students learn, though nearly a third recognized that boys might simply demand more attention unless the teacher takes appropriate steps to ensure equity." Other key findings from the survey:

• Teachers were almost equally divided on the scope of violence in schools: 46 percent feel it's "a widespread problem" while 48 percent believe it that it "may be a problem in some districts, but most schools are pretty safe." Only 5 percent said the problem was "overrated."

• They strongly believe that HIV/AIDS education is a good idea: 77 percent said they felt that junior high and high school students need detailed education on prevention. Only 6 percent said HIV education should be left to parents.

• More than half felt that removing controversial books from school libraries "might be acceptable" in some cases, but "should only be done in the most extreme circumstances when the entire community has been involved in the decision." Nearly 30 percent said that censorship is "never appropriate" while 16 percent said children are impressionable and "it is necessary to forbid the use of certain books in school."

The poll was conducted online as part of the "Chalk Talk Challenge," a survey for educators offered by www.education-world.com, the Internet's most powerful K-12 education search engine. From September 22 through October 24, more than 6,568 teachers registered for the Challenge and received electronic questionnaires via e-mail. Although response rates varied, an average of 1,048 teachers completed and returned the survey each week.

The "Chalk Talk Challenge" was sponsored by Gateway 2000, Microsoftâ, and O'Reilly & Associates. Full results of the Chalk Talk Challenge can be found at www.education-world.com/. Education World is the Internet's most complete online guide for educators, featuring the Internet's largest education-specific search engine, plus original lesson plans, curriculum materials, education news articles, and monthly reviews of the Internet's best educational Web sites. For more information, please visit the Education World Web site at www.education-world.com or contact Dean Davison or Michelle Manuel at (816) 842-1500.

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Chalk Talk Challenge was an online survey of 6,568 educators with an average of 1,048 active responses. Margin of error for the survey was +/- 3.0%.

Chalk Talk Challenge respondents were automatically entered in a drawing for a range of prizes. Three grand prize winners were awarded Gateway 2000 Destination Big Screen PC/TV computer systems. More than 60 respondents also won Microsoftâ software packages (valued at $100 each) including Encartaâ and Microsoftâ Bookshelfâ. Twenty second prize winners received Education World polo shirts. In addition, five weekly winners were chosen to receive one of two Internet teachers' guides: Net Learning: Why Teachers Use the Internet or Net Lessons: Web-Based Projects For Your Classroom. Both guides are published by O'Reilly & Associates.