The Biggest Problems Facing Schools Nationally.

A national survey was done in 2002 that asked one simple question to parents.  What is the biggest problem facing your school.  Not surprisingly, the answer was under funding.  Below were the survey results.

• Under funding.............23%
• Lack of discipline.........17%
• Drugs.........................13%
• Violence...................... 9%
• Lack of good teachers...8%

A similar national survey was done in 2017 and found little change to the data found in the 2002 survey .  They are as follows:However, this survey included the use of high stakes testing standards required by the Obama Administration for the education reform endorsed teacher evaluation system  that was not available in the original survey.

• Under funding.............22%
• Lack of discipline.........18%
• State Standards............9%
• Lack of good teachers...7%
• Drugs...........................6%
• Violence...................... 6%

Interestingly, despite the media reports of school violence and drug use, both are significantly less a problem for parents than in  2002.  However, the two major problems in the schools remain under funding and student discipline ,

  Is it any wonder that in the last two months we have seen four States, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, and West Virginia suffer a teacher walkout demanding higher wages and more resources for the schools.   In three of the four States, Arizona, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, negotiations were successfully concluded with significant pay raises for teachers.  However, in Arizona, the State refused to add resources to the schools and only promised to rescind previous education cuts. In Colorado the jury is out whether the teachers will achieve heir goal.