Past AEA Polls:
Recently, media attention has focused on teacher training. From your experience, which was the most helpful for acquiring classroom teaching skills?
13.3% --Student teaching
61.33% --First year or two in the classroom
16% --Advice from neighboring and mentoring teachers
0% --Preparing for Praxis or other licensure exams
How much time do you typically spend preparing your classroom for the opening of school?
3.37%--
1.12%--
Recently, an International Summit called to “make the teaching profession more attractive.” Will SB 5 make teaching more attractive in Ohio? Of the items listed below, which do you believe makes the most important contribution toward a positive school climate?
0%-- Very attractive. Top graduates and experienced teachers from neighboring states will be knocking down the doors to come to Ohio
1.22% --SB 5 is not perfect, but it will attract quality graduates to the profession.
1.83% --I don’t think it will matter much either way.
15.85%-- I believe it will have a negative effect on attracting people to the profession.
81.1%-- Are you kidding? Who would want to teach under a law like this?
33.52% -- Supportive leadership and decision making
29.05% -- Safety and order in the building
16.76% -- Supportive and involved Parents
9.5% -- Relationships between and among teaching staff
1.68% -- Adequate resources, including the physical building
How accurately do you believe the recent film “Waiting for Superman” portrays the public school system?
10.53% --
How would you rate the performance of Arne Duncan, the current U.S. Secretary of Education?
How much time do you typically spend preparing your classroom for the opening of school?
34.52%-- Oh, I work pretty much daily in the two weeks (or more) before school starts.
33.33%-- I need to be in there at least a week prior to school starting.
4.76%-- It’s not that much time, I can get most of it busted-out in an afternoon.
0%-- Hey, what’s the problem, my stuff is pretty much ready to go.
Teacher’s sense of accomplishment at the end of this school year. How do I feel about what was accomplished with the kids this past school year?
37% -- Overall, I feel pretty good about what got accomplished this year.
20% -- Well, it was this year was just so-so. I feel that I did some real good in some areas, but in others, I was frustrated.
How appropriate is about the amount of mandatory staff development currently offered in the district?
45.1% -- Wow, we have tons —there’s just too many staff development days to really make practical use of it.
18.6% -- The amount is only a little over what is useful and practically can be incorporated.
21.6% -- The amount of staff development currently offered is about right for what is useful.
8.8% -- There currently needs to be a little more staff development built into the school year.
5.9% -- Hey, I’m hurting for help here. We need much more.
Currently, the climate in my school is one that helps my students learn.
6% Absolutely, it’s consistent & positive
19% Yes, much of the time
11% Ah, it’s about 50-50
24% Not really, we’ve had better years
41% Right now, it’s just dismal
In general, my principal makes decisions that improve the quality of my school.
19% Strongly Agree 19%
18% Agree 18%
12% Disagree
32% Strongly Disagree
How State Testing Affects the Students in my Classroom
5%- Although there are a few problems, overall, I believe that state testing has improved the quality of education for the kids in my classroom. The testing really keeps us focused.
25%- The testing helps some, but we loose too much instructional time because of it. It would be better for the kids in my classroom if we kept the testing but made it more limited.
63%- It’s true what the critics say—the curriculum is so limited, we pretty much just teach to the test. My students suffer from it.
8%- It’s horrible for the kids. I just hate it.
How has your building principal presented the Board’s goal to improve customer service this year??
20%- My principal has been too busy working with us to improve student achievement to worry about it.
18%- My principal’s expectations have been very reasonable.
26% Ever heard the term “sacrificial lambs?”
36% Huhh????
Governor’s Plan: Among the “Expand learning opportunities” proposals in the governor’s plan, which do you believe would be the most beneficial to Ohio schools?
30%-Statewide all day kindergarten
20%- Twenty additional days to the school year
20%-non-academic learning opportunities
30%- Family and Community Engagement Teams
0%- District sponsored charter schools that celebrate creativity and innovation
0%-Develop center for Creativity & Innovation at the Department of Ed., & conduct research
0%-Have Ohio Academic Olympics
Governor’s Plan: Among the “High Quality Educator” proposals in the governor’s plan, which do you believe would be the most beneficial to Ohio schools?
14%-Develop a residency for new teachers
5%-Create a career ladder for teachers that has 4 ranks from Resident Educator to Lead Professional Educator
41%-Align K-12 needs with educator preparation an staff development in colleges
23%-Ensure all students benefit from art, music, gifted and physical education
5%-Create standards for superintendents, treasurers, and school business officials
14% -Implement a quality index that will drive resources to schools that need them most
0%-Create Teach Ohio to encourage people from all walks of life to go into teaching
How do you plan on spending your Spring break?
18% -I’m heading to a warmer climate for the week--sand, surf, sun & all of that great stuff.
73% -I’m staying home, but plan to kick back and relax—movies, shopping, you name it.
9%-I’m taking a class this semester and want to catch up on my studying.
0%-I’m working my second job—it’s a tough economy.
0% -At school--I just can’t leave the place
How well did your university training prepare you for the classroom?
--9% My university classes were practical and trained me well for the classroom. A little experience was all I needed.
--9% Most university classes were useful and practical. While a few seemed to have little relevance, I did get a decent background for the classroom.
--22% It was about 50-50. Some classes gave me a good background and others were of little use.
--52% Only a few were practical. Most had little relevance to the classroom.
--9% It was woefully inadequate. Very little of what I learned prepared me for this. I can’t believe they charged us.
Teacher’s sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.
--10% Teaching is my Nirvana, I love each and every day.
--45% At the end of most days, I feel that I have accomplished something with my students, only once in a while I feel frustrated.
--31% It's about 50-50: half the time I feel I've accomplished something, and half of the time I feel frustrated.
--14% On most days, I feel frustrated and I feel that I have accomplished little with my students. Accomplishing something seems rare.
--0% I chose the wrong profession.