A well-known "study" comparing the top school problems of 1940 (talking and gum chewing) with those of 1987 (drug abuse, pregnancy, and violence) is nonexistent. In 1940, 49 percent of all youth did not finish high school, 37,000 teenagers died from violence or disease, and 335,000 teens gave birth. Educators should discount pastoral…

Reports results from the 1984 Canadian Education Association poll of public opinion of education. This is the first Canadian survey of its kind. (MD)

Conducting research in university classrooms is difficult because the lecture method stifles discussion and limits opportunities to observe student/professor interactions. A recent study found that university classrooms are probably as chilly for minority students as they are for women. Bias against foreign students is less discernible. Study…

Provides compilation and discussion of the results of the 13th annual Gallup survey of public attitudes toward the public schools. (WD)

Presents findings of a national survey intended to provide a foundation for subsequent polls and to compare teachers' attitudes toward schools with the public's. Reports opinions on a wide variety of general, political, professional, disciplinary, and academic issues in education. (MCG)

The public continues to oppose allowing students and parents to choose a private school to attend at public expense, but favors government-paid tuition for students choosing to attend any public, private, or religious school. The public assigns local schools passing grades, likes schools' size, favors school prayer, and wants innercity schools to…

Reports the full results of the 1982 Gallup Poll of the public's attitude toward education. Topics covered include major problems confronting the schools, rating of the schools, federal funds, budget cutting, curriculum changes, special education, and federal control. (JM)