Poll Puts New Texts Atop Public’s Wish List for Schools

Asked to choose between more textbooks and many of the education reforms pushed by Gov. Pete Wilson and the leading candidates to replace him, the public chooses textbooks hands-down, according to a new survey released Tuesday.

Of course, the poll of registered voters was conducted for the American Assn. of Publishers. But it was released Tuesday by the California PTA.

It found that replacing the outdated textbooks used by about half of California’s students is more popular than even reducing class sizes or building new classrooms.

The poll of 800 registered voters was conducted in the second week of April by Dresner, Wickers & Associates, a nationally known political consulting firm based in Bedford Hills, N.Y., that has worked for Wilson and Republican candidates across the nation.

“Californians’ common sense tells them that you’re not going to get where you want to go if kids don’t have the basic stuff of education,” said John Mockler, a consultant to the publishers group.

State Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) has proposed legislation that would allocate $170 million for textbooks, doubling the current per-pupil amount.

Excerpts:

Q: Which is more important, providing funds for current textbooks or funds for class size reduction?

Funding for current textbooks--60.3%.

Funding for class size reduction--26%.

Both are equally important--11.4%.

Not sure/refused to answer--2.4%.

Q: Which is more important, providing funds for current textbooks or funds for new classrooms?

Funding for current textbooks--67.1%.

Funding for new classrooms--20.5%.

Both are equally important--9.6%.

Not sure/refused--2.8%.

Q: Which is more important, providing funds for current textbooks or funds for a longer school year?

Funding for current textbooks--80.4%.

Funding for a longer school year--11.5%.

Both are equally important--5.2%.

Not sure/refused--2.9%.

Q: Which is more important, providing funds for current textbooks or funds for a pay increase for teachers?

Funding for current textbooks--65.2%.

Funding a pay increase for teachers--20.5%.

Both are equally important--11.5%.

Not sure/refused--2.8%.

Q: Would you strongly support, oppose or strongly oppose spending $30 per student, or $170 million, to purchase current textbooks for all California public school students?

Strongly support--39.1%.

Support--35.1%.

Oppose--10%.

Strongly oppose--3.9%.

No opinion--6.7%.

Not sure--5.2%.