These are the results of an Environics poll conducted Aug. 1 to 13, 2008, for CBC News: Pass or Fail. The questions were asked of 803 parents of current and former public school students, and people who completed high school within the past decade. The number represents the percentage of respondents who gave each answer.

1. When it comes to elementary and secondary school education, what do you think is the most important issue in the public education system in this country today?

Lack of funding of schools/spending cuts/school closings 12
Large class sizes/lack of individual attention 12
Poor quality teaching 6
Need more fundamentals (math, etc.) 6
Curriculum issues 6
Poor quality education (general) 5
Discipline Issues 4
Keeping kids motivated 3
Literacy/reading/writing/lack of phonics 3
Lack of teachers/staff 3
Violence/crime/order 2
Special needs students 2
Values/morals/character building 2
All other answers 18
Don't know/no answer 15

2. Thinking about your own province do you think the quality of elementary and secondary education is generally …

Excellent 8
Good 49
Adequate 28
Poor 11
Very poor 2
Don't know/no answer 1

3. Comparing the present to 10 years ago, do you think that …

a) the current elementary school system in your province is better, worse or about the same?

Better 21
Worse 23
About the same 43
Don't know/no answer 14

b) the current secondary school system in your province is better, worse or about the same?

Better 20
Worse 24
About the same 42
Don't know/no answer 14

4. Thinking about the abilities and skills that children will need to succeed in the coming century, do you think it is very important, somewhat important or not important for children to do each of the following:

a) Learn French (for English-speaking respondents)/Learn English (for French-speaking respondents)

Very important 50
Somewhat important 37
Not important 12
Don't know/no answer <1

b) Learn a language other than French or English

Very important 34
Somewhat important 48
Not important 17
Don't know/no answer <1

c) Study the religious beliefs and social customs of countries around the world

Very important 36
Somewhat important 48
Not important 15
Don't know/no answer 1

d) Calculate the area of a backyard patio

Very important 45
Somewhat important 37
Not important 16
Don't know/no answer 1

e) Learn how to play a musical instrument

Very important 31
Somewhat important 50
Not important 19
Don't know/no answer 1

f) Learn the difference between a molecule and a cell

Very important 48
Somewhat important 41
Not important 9
Don't know/no answer 1

g) Learn how to write a computer programming code

Very important 33
Somewhat important 46
Not important 19
Don't know/no answer 1

h) Read the novel To Kill a Mockingbird

Very important 22
Somewhat important 39
Not important 34
Don't know/no answer 6

i) Learn the definition of a recession

Very important 56
Somewhat important 36
Not important 7
Don't know/no answer 1

j) Study Canadian history

Very important 68
Somewhat important 29
Not important 3
Don't know/no answer <1

k) Learn the history of World War II

Very important 50
Somewhat important 39
Not important 10
Don't know/no answer 1

l) Learn how to fix a car

Very important 18
Somewhat important 54
Not important 27
Don't know/no answer 1

m) Learn how to cook a meal

Very important 59
Somewhat important 32
Not important 8
Don't know/no answer 1

n) Learn how to manage a household budget

Very important 82
Somewhat important 15
Not important 2
Don't know/no answer <1

5. People have different ideas about the goals or aims of education. Would you rate each of the following goals as very important, somewhat important or not important …?

a) Schools should stress a child’s moral development.

Very important 63
Somewhat important 30
Not important 7
Don't know/no answer 1

b) Schools should teach children knowledge and skills that will be useful for their future occupation or career.

Very important 80
Somewhat important 17
Not important 3
Don't know/no answer <1

c) Schools should stress the child’s social skills, the ability to get along and work with others.

Very important 82
Somewhat important 17
Not important <1
Don't know/no answer <1

6. a) Generally speaking, do you think the schools are or are not teaching children the right things in the right way for the times we live in?

Are 56
Are not 39
Don't know/no answer 5

b) (For those who say “Are not”) Why do you say that?

Lack of life skills/preparation for the future 16
Lack of discipline/morals/social development 15
Lack of fundamentals/basic education 12
Curriculum is outdated/not relevant 9
Kids are not being taught to learn/no hands-on 7
No choices/deviation/too academic 5
Large class size/lack of individual attention 5
Poor quality teaching 5
Teachers don't care/aren't motivated 4
Focusing too much on social behaviour/obedience 4
Relying too much on technology 4
Kids are being rushed through the system 3
All other answers 26
Don't know/no answer 6

7. (For parents) And would you say your children are or are not being well-prepared for the next phase of their lives after high school?

Are 54
Are not 37
Don't know/no answer 9

8. Which statement best reflects your view?

Most of the problems in our school system can be traced to failures among teachers, or, Most of the problems in the school system can be traced to problems in students' homes.

Teachers 20
Students’ homes 64
Don't know/no answer 16

9. Keeping in mind that school systems have to make choices about what is offered, would you place a high, medium or low priority on each of the following?

a) French immersion classes in English-speaking communities

High 40
Medium 42
Low 18
Don't know/no answer 1

b) English immersion classes in French-speaking communities

High 48
Medium 38
Low 12
Don't know/no answer 1

c) English as a second language (for English respondents)/French as a second language (for French respondents) classes for immigrant students

High 71
Medium 24
Low 5
Don't know/no answer <1

d) Programs for gifted students

High 59
Medium 33
Low 7
Don't know/no answer 1

e) Programs for students with disabilities or special needs

High 77
Medium 20
Low 3
Don't know/no answer <1

f) Health-related counselling in such areas as nutrition and safe sex

High 68
Medium 26
Low 5
Don't know/no answer <1

g) Installing closed circuit cameras and other devices on school property

High 28
Medium 37
Low 33
Don't know/no answer 2

h) Classes teaching values and ethical behaviour

High 65
Medium 26
Low 7
Don't know/no answer 1

10. In your opinion, are boys disadvantaged in the school environment, are girls disadvantaged or is there no disadvantage by gender?

Boys disadvantaged 16
Girls disadvantaged 7
No disadvantage 75
Don't know/no answer 5

11. When it comes to dealing with discipline and control in the schools, do you think the school environment is too strict, is it not strict enough or is it about right?

Too strict 3
Not strict enough 61
About right 33
Don't know/no answer 3

12. Does the presence of children with different cultures and languages in the classroom hinder the learning or progress of other children, does it enhance the learning or progress of other children, or neither?

Hindered 8
Enhanced 42
Neither 46
Don't know/no answer 4

13. Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statements about elementary and secondary education:

a) There is too much focus on the average child and not enough on those who are gifted or who have special needs.

Agree 40
Disagree 56
Don't know/no answer 4

b) The school system promotes children to the next grade regardless of how they have performed.

Agree 58
Disagree 38
Don't know/no answer 4

c) School is no longer a safe place for children.

Agree 28
Disagree 70
Don't know/no answer 3

d) The schools could be teaching students much more than they currently do

Agree 69
Disagree 29
Don't know/no answer 2

e) The education system does a good job in preparing Canadians to compete internationally.

Agree 43
Disagree 48
Don't know/no answer 9

f) Private schools provide a better-quality education than public schools.

Agree 43
Disagree 45
Don't know/no answer 12

14. Have you ever had a disagreement with a teacher about what or how your child should be taught?

Yes 43
No 57
Don't know/no answer 1

15. And have you found teachers and schools to be open or not open to your input about how or what your child should be taught?

Open 64
Not open 26
Not applicable 7
Don't know/no answer 3

16. What is the most important thing you or your child learned in school?

Social skills/acceptance 25
Language/literacy skills 17
Work ethics/working hard/responsibility/discipline 7
Morals 6
Mathematics 5
Fundamentals/basic education 3
Life skills/preparation for the future 3
Learning to learn/how to learn/desire to learn 3
Problem-solving/analytical skills 2
Independence/leadership 2
Confidence/self-esteem 2
All other answers 10
Don't know/no answer 15

17. And what is the least useful thing you or your child learned in school?

Arts/music 6
Culture/philosophy/religion 6
Physical/health education 5
Advanced/certain mathematics (various) 4
French 4
Home economics 2
History — world/other countries/Canadian 2
Offensive language/bad behaviour/habits 2
Science 2
All other answers 11
Don't know/no answer 53

18. Overall, from your experience, what grade would you give the public school system: an A, B, C, D or F?

A 7
B 48
C 36
D 7
F 1
Don't know/no answer 1