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Visit the summer learning section of our Parent Community to exchange ideas.
What's your child's favorite summer learning activity?
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GreatSchools Poll results
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May 2008
| What kind of gift do you give a teacher at the end of the school year? |
Homemade gift or trinket
23% |
Gift card or luxury item
61% |
None
17% |
Total Votes: 2604
Return To Vote
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Talk about this topic on the GreatSchools community:
What kind of gift do you give a teacher at the end of the year?
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April 2008
| At what age should a child get her first job? |
Middle school
19% |
High school
68% |
After high school graduation
13% |
Total Votes: 1871
Return To Vote
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Talk about this topic on the GreatSchools community:
At what age do you think a child should get her first job?
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March 2008
| What do you want most from your child's school counselor? |
Academic help and study skills
24% |
Educational and college planning
33% |
Career and life planning
13% |
Social skills coaching
30% |
Total Votes: 828
Return To Vote
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Talk about this topic on the GreatSchools community:
What do you want most from your child's school counselor?
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February 2008
| Should schools give students
cash for good grades? |
Yes. It will motivate struggling
students.
27% |
No. Bribing students is always
wrong.
46% |
Maybe. We should test a reward
system.
27% |
Total
Votes: 1381
Vote previously recorded. Vote
not counted.
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Talk about this topic on the GreatSchools community:
Should schools give students cash for good grades?
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January 2008
| How does your school raise
money? |
A big annual fund-raiser
27% |
Lots of small fund-raisers
64% |
Asks for donations directly
9% |
Total
Votes: 851
Vote previously recorded. Vote
not counted.
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Want to learn more?
Read: Raising Money for Your School
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December 2007
| Should school start later so teens get
their sleep? |
Yes, that would help them learn better.
62% |
No, teens should learn to get up early.
38% |
Total
Votes:
3088
Return To
Vote
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Want to learn more?
Read: Sleep: The Secret Weapon for School Success
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November 2007
| Should public schools require students to wear uniforms? |
Yes, it helps kids focus on learning
77% |
No, kids need freedom of expression
23% |
Total Votes: 5568
Return To Vote
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Want to learn more?
Read: Do Uniforms Make Schools Better?
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October 2007
| Does your school's culture
prevent bullying? |
Yes, the school refuses to tolerate
bullies.
50% |
No, bullying is a big problem.
42% |
Bullying isn't discussed because it's not
a problem.
8% |
Total
Votes:
995
Return To Vote
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Want to learn more?
Read: The Bully and the Bystander
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September 2007
| Should there be U.S. standards for what kids learn? |
Yes, standards should be the same for all students.
79% |
No, states should still decide what is taught.
18% |
Don't know
3% |
Total Votes: 1809
Return To Vote
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Want to learn more?
Read: Why Are Standards Important?
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August 2007
| How much do you spend on back-to-school needs for each child? |
Less than $100
19% |
$100-$250
44% |
$250-$500
28% |
More than $500
8% |
Total Votes: 2020
Return To Vote
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Want school shopping tips?
Read: A Back-to-School List to Get You Started
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July 2007
| Do you reward your child for good grades? |
Yes, with money or a gift
70% |
No, good grades are reward enough
28% |
My child doesn't get good grades
2% |
Total Votes: 3980
Return To Vote
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Want to learn how report cards are changing?
Read: Rethinking Report Cards
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June 2007
| Does your child's school
waste a lot of time at the end of the school
year? |
Yes, kids have too many parties and movies.
55% |
No, kids work right up until the end and I'm
glad.
21% |
I don't care because kids deserve some fun.
24% |
Total
Votes: 2279
Return To Vote
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Want ideas to help your child keep learning?
Read: 10 Tips to Keep
Your Child Reading This Summer
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May 2007
|
Should the No Child Left Behind law be renewed? |
Yes, it's needed and it's working
11% |
Yes, but it needs some changes
38% |
No, it's not working at all
51% |
Total
Votes: 4141
Return To Vote
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Want to learn more?
Read: What the No Child
Left Behind Law Means for Your Child
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April 2007
|
Should principals limit the amount of homework? |
No, teachers should decide the right amount
34% |
Yes, homework has gotten out of hand
59% |
No, there's not enough homework
8% |
Total Votes:
2712
Return To Vote
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Want to learn more?
Read: How Much Homework is Too Much Homework?
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March 2007
| Should schools ban social networking Web sites? |
Yes, they are a dangerous distraction.
57% |
No, schools should teach kids to use them safely.
43% |
Total Votes: 1174
Return To Vote
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Want to learn more?
Read: Can MySpace Be Good for Kids?
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February 2007
| Are standardized tests helping or hurting kids? |
Helping
23% |
Hurting
77% |
Total Votes: 2407
Return To Vote
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Want to learn more?
Read: What's So Bad About Teaching to the Test?
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January 2007
| Should schools
ban cupcakes at class parties? |
Yes, kids eat too much sugar
11% |
No, schools should limit sweets, not ban
them
62% |
No, parents should set food rules, not
schools
27% |
Total
Votes: 6275
Return To Vote
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Want to learn more?
Read: How Parents Can Help Kids and Schools Get Healthy
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December 2006
| Has recess been cut back at your school? |
Yes, there's less time for recess.
57% |
Yes, recess is gone.
15% |
No, children have the same time for recess.
28% |
Total Votes: 647
Return To Vote
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Want to learn more?
Read: Beyond the Food Fights: Helping Schools Get Healthy
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November 2006
| Should public
school districts have single-sex
schools? |
Yes, single-sex schools would be a good
alternative.
61% |
No, these schools should be private.
24% |
No, these schools are bad for all kids.
16% |
Total
Votes: 2106
Return To Vote
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Want to read more about choosing a school?
Read our School Choice
Tips
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October 2006
| What's the best way to make
schools safer? |
Metal detectors
13% |
Gun control
5% |
Less violence in entertainment
13% |
Less media coverage of school violence
6% |
More parent supervision
63% |
Total
Votes: 1699
Return To Vote
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Want to read more?
Read: Stopping School
Violence: The Latest Trends
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September 2006
| How do you feel about your
child's homework load? |
There's not enough homework
18% |
There's too much
52% |
It's about right
30% |
Total
Votes: 5151
Return To Vote
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Want to read more?
Read: How Much Homework
is Too Much?
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August 2006
| What's the biggest challenge your school faces this year? |
Improving teacher quality
19% |
Improving the principal's leadership
12% |
Making sure all students achieve
57% |
Making the school safer
12% |
Total Votes: 2718
Return To Vote
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Learn more about how you can help your school meet its challenges.
Read: What Makes a Great Parent
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July 2006
| What best describes your child's feelings about going back to school? |
Would rather stay on vacation
35% |
Scared
16% |
Looking forward to it
48% |
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Total Votes: 964
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Want to read more about helping your child get ready to go back to school?
Read: Start Your School Routine Now
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| Should parents limit kids' TV and computer time in the summer? |
No, kids should be allowed to decide for themselves.
9% |
Yes, but they should be less strict in the summer.
43% |
Yes, parents should limit it just as they do during the school year.
49% |
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Total Votes: 1565
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Want to learn more?
Read: Managing Your Child's Media Diet
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June 2006
| Should schools require students to read over the summer? |
Yes, I think kids need a required reading list.
31% |
Yes, but kids should get some choice about what to read.
48% |
No, kids need a break from assignments.
21% |
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Total Votes: 2590
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Looking for ideas to make reading fun for your child?
Read: It's Not Just for Oprah Anymore: Starting a Book Club for Kids
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May 2006
| Should parents have to give permission for kids to take sex education? |
Yes, they should.
55% |
No, all students should take sex ed.
38% |
Schools shouldn't teach sex ed, at all.
8% |
Total Votes: 3714
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Want to learn more about the issue?
Read: The Birds and the Bees: The Status of Sex Ed
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April 2006
| Does your school have an anti-bullying program? |
Yes, but kids are bullied anyway
23% |
Yes, and it works
8% |
No
54% |
I don't know
15% |
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Total Votes: 3405
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Want to learn more about the issue?
Read: What You Can Do to Stamp Out Bullying
and
Parents: Get Up to Speed on the FAQs About Cyber Bullying
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March 2006
| Who should decide how evolution is taught in your child's school? |
A committee of local citizens 17% |
| Science educators 18% |
| My school board 10% |
| My state 55% |
| Total Votes: 3527 |
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Want to learn more about the debate?
Read: What's All the Fuss About? Evolution, Intelligent Design and Science Education
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February 2006
| How much do you help your child with homework? |
| Never, she does it by herself 53%
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| Sometimes, if she asks for help 17% |
| Often, because she needs a lot of help 6% |
| Always, I check all her work every night 24% |
| Total Votes: 3960 |
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Want to read more about helping your child with homework?
Read: Whose Science Project Is It, Anyway?
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January 2006
| Should teachers get raises when student test scores improve? |
Yes, it would reward them for results
30% |
No, there's more to teacher quality than test scores
70% |
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Total Votes: 3270
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Want to know how to keep your child motivated and avert family battles?
Read: Coping with Homework Horrors
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December 2005
| When your school needs money, how do you prefer to give? |
Write a check
23% |
Donate time to a fund-raising event
18% |
Both, schools need all the help they can get
36% |
Neither, schools ask for money too often
23% |
Total Votes: 776
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Want to know more about how to help your child's school?
Read:
10 Easy Ways to Help Your Child's School
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November 2005
| How many years should a teacher work before getting tenure? |
2 years
18% |
5 years
26% |
10 years
19% |
Teachers should not get tenure
37% |
Total Votes: 4382
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Want to know more about teacher quality?
Read:
What Makes a Great Teacher
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October 2005
| Should schools require students to do community service? |
No, forcing them won't teach volunteerism.
22% |
Yes, it builds the habit of helping.
55% |
No, schools should stick to academics.
24% |
Total Votes: 3251
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What to read more about this issue?
Read:
Learning to be a Giraffe: The Value of Character Education
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September 2005
| How old should a child be to have a cell phone? |
At least 5 years old
3% |
At least 8 years old
11% |
A teenager
66% |
Kids shouldn't have cell phones
20% |
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Total Votes: 6854
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Trying to figure out if you should buy your child a cell phone?
Read:
Is Your Child Old Enough for A Cell Phone?
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| Should schools have rules about what kids wear? |
Yes, schools should have dress codes.
46% |
Yes, schools should require uniforms.
31% |
No, that's a job for parents.
23% |
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Total Votes: 10066
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Want to learn more about this issue?
Read:
What to Wear to School: The Great Debate Over Dress Codes and School Uniforms
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August 2005
| What do you think about the length of summer vacation? |
It's just right.
58% |
It's too long. I'd like more short breaks.
27% |
It's too long, period. Kids need class time.
16% |
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Total Votes: 3943
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Want to ease the transition from summer to school?
Read: Set the Stage: Don't Wait To Start Your School Routine
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July 2005
| Should summer school be required for students who fail state tests? |
Yes, they need to get to grade level
75% |
No, it should be their choice
14% |
No, the school year is long enough
11% |
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Total Votes: 5530
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Want to know more about how to keep your child on track?
Read: Five Key Skills to
Academic Success
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June 2005
| Grade your child's teacher |
A, top notch
36% |
B, above average
19% |
C, average
14% |
D, needs to improve
11% |
F, failed
20% |
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Total Votes: 1838
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Want more information on teacher quality?
Read: What Makes a Great Teacher?
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| Should taxes be raised to boost school funding? |
No, schools should spend more wisely
35% |
No, cut other programs
12% |
Yes, schools need more money
53% |
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Total Votes: 2595
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Want more information on school funding?
Read: Follow the Money: The Ins
and Outs of School Finance
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| Should teachers in low-performing schools get 'combat pay?' |
Yes, they deserve it
62% |
No, it won't motivate them
16% |
No, it isn't fair to others
22% |
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Total Votes: 3751
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Want more information on teacher quality?
Read: What Makes a Great Teacher?
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| Are your kids over programmed? |
Yes, they need activities they don’t get in school
46% |
Yes, they have to keep up with the other kids
13% |
No, we’ve managed the right balance
41% |
Total Votes: 725
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Want more information on helping your child stay on the
right track?
Read: Five
Key Skills for Academic Success |
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April 2005
| Should “No Child Left Behind” expand To include high schools? |
Yes, high schools need more accountability
54% |
No, high school kids take too many tests already
31% |
No, concentrate on elementary schools
15% |
Total Votes: 2659
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Want more information on No Child Left Behind?
Read: What
No Child Left Behind Means for Your Child |
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March 2005
Should
you reward
your child for
a good report card? |
Yes,
give money or a gift
47% |
Yes,
just give verbal praise
48% |
No,
don't overemphasize grades
4% |
| Total
Votes: 5703 |
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Want more information on report cards?
Read: Understanding Report Cards |
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February 2005
| Should
schools ban student cell phone use? |
No,
cell phone use should be allowed
30% |
Yes,
but allow emergency calls
42% |
Yes,
cell phones should be banned
28% |
| Total
Votes: 4145 |
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Want more information on school safety?
Read:
How
Safe Is Your School |
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| Should
schools ban selling soft drinks? |
Yes,
kids should not buy soft drinks at school.
17% |
No,
kids should be able to buy what they want.
5% |
No,
selling soft drinks helps schools earn money.
79% |
Total
Votes: 13761
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Want more information about school nutrition?
Read:
An
Apple a Day Can’t Keep the Junk Food Away From the School Cafeteria |
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January 2005
| Should
your state provide universal preschool? |
Yes,
give all kids an equal start
22% |
No,
it’s not necessary
66% |
No,
it would cost too much
12% |
Total
Votes: 8014
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