The Arlington, Washington, School District--a mostly rural district with enrollment of 2,790--conducted a survey of its public using both blanket mailing and random sampling procedures in order to compare the views of the total population with the views of the typically small percentage who mail back a questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 29 items assessing public attitudes toward public schools. Returns for the blanket mailing numbered 620 (14.8%). Returns for the random sample numbered 102 (89.5%). Three groups were identified: randomly sampled parents, parents who elected to return the questionnaire, and non-parents who elected to return the questionnaire. On the average, 4.8% of the parents who voluntarily mailed back the questionnaire were more critical of the job Arlington Schools were doing than were the sampled parents. Mail-in parents were also more concerned about education than other parents as indicated by the fact that 44% were willing to support a tax increase compared to 34% of the sampled group. Differences ranged from 18.4% of mail-in parents more critical (on getting enough arithmetic instruction) to 6.0% of sampled parents more critical (on the item asking if local students had too many rights and privileges today). Non-parents mailing in the questionnaire were the most critical group. (JHZ)