Students’ Parents View Schools More Favorably Than Rest of Public

San Diego County residents who have children in public schools give the educational system an “A” or a “B” five times more often than those residents without a direct link to the schools, according to a telephone survey authorized by the County Office of Education.

Such parents were also more likely to credit schools with improvements during the past five years, the survey found.

More than one-fourth of county residents said they both lacked sufficient knowledge about schools to give any type of evaluation and were unable to say whether schools had become better since more money and attention began to be paid to public education five years ago under nationwide and local reforms.

Information for Administrators

The October survey, using a method to ensure equal probability of reaching residents regardless of whether their telephone numbers were listed, is intended to give school administrators base-line information about how the public thinks they are doing.

“We found out that those with first-hand knowledge of their schools give them the highest rating,” said Tom Boysen, county superintendent of schools. “In fact, the greater the knowledge, the greater the approval.”

Bob Meadow, who carried out the survey by the Decision Research Co., said the data “suggest strongly that there is a misconception about the quality of public school education.

“The reality as experienced by parents of school-age children is that schools are doing a good or excellent job. Respondents without children in school . . . grade the schools less favorably.”

In the survey, 34% of parents gave the school where their oldest child attends an “A” and 40% a “B.” Among all residents, only 7% gave schools an “A,” while 28% gave a “B,” and 30% a “C.”

In comparison, a Gallup Poll survey that asked the same questions nationwide last year found 22% of parents gave the school where their oldest child attends an “A” and 48% a “B,” while, among all respondents, 9% gave schools an “A,” 31% a “B,” and 34% a “C.”

In other questions, 35% of all county residents said drug abuse is the biggest problem facing schools, similar to the 32% in the national sample. But 14% of all county residents said crowded classes are a problem, contrasted with just 6% nationally. Ten percent of county residents said discipline is a problem, contrasted with 19% nationally.

Major Problems Cited

County parents cited crowded classes and funding shortages more often than non-parents, who cited drug abuse and a lack of discipline more frequently. Parents also called for smaller classes and more parent participation when asked what schools should do to get an “A,” whereas non-parents wanted better instructors teaching basic skills and more discipline.

About 30% of county residents overestimated the lottery funds--3% of school district revenues--provided by the state games that began in October, 1985. And, although 69% of all county residents support year-round elementary schools, Meadow said that “interestingly, those most informed about schools are least enthusiastic about the idea, even though two-thirds of them still support the concept.”

Among county residents, 93% favor requiring high-school students to pass the present statewide basic skills test in order to receive a diploma, and 87% believe experienced teachers as well as new teachers should pass a basic competency test in their subject area before being allowed in the classroom. Also, 79% favor a national certification standard and 84% favor higher pay--the controversial merit pay idea--for the most talented teachers.

Finally, 74% of all residents said they would vote for a school-bond measure for new schools, with 66% of those without children in school also saying they would vote yes. However, Meadow cautions that five out of five attempts to pass general obligation school bond measures in county school districts during the past two years failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority.