As part of ASCD's ongoing efforts to find out what our members think about important education issues, we have launched a telephone survey process. For this initial run, the topic of the phone survey is parental rights.
To respond to the phone survey, call (toll-free) 1-888-933-ASCD, between January 6 and January 31, 1997. A recorded voice will ask you the survey questions.
Results of the phone survey will be reported in a future issue of Education Update. Information gathered through the phone survey will also be considered during ASCD's process for determining official positions of the Association. Phone survey results will be shared with the Board of Directors to help inform their deliberations on potential positions during ASCD's Annual Conference in March.
Responding to the phone survey takes 3 to 5 minutes. During the survey, you will be asked the following questions:
- Are you an ASCD member?
- Yes, for four years or more
- Yes, for less than four years
- No
- How concerned are you about the issue of parental rights?
- Not at all
- Somewhat concerned
- Very concerned
- Are parents' rights to direct their children's education being infringed on by educators?
- Yes, frequently
- Yes, but rarely
- No
- Have educators and school counselors taken on too much of a parental role?
- Yes, they have overstepped their bounds
- Yes, they've been forced to, as parents have abdicated their responsibilities
- No
- Do we need parental rights laws that give parents grounds for suing when they believe their authority has been usurped?
- Yes
- No
- Not sure
- Should boards of education respond to parent concerns by restricting discussions of controversial topics—such as multiculturalism or sexual orientation—that some believe would be in students' or society's best interest?
- Yes
- No
- Not sure
- Should schools be able to require students to perform community service despite their parents' objections?
- Yes
- No
- Not sure
- Should schools be required to notify parents if a student reports having a substance abuse problem or a sexually communicable disease?
- Yes
- No
- Not sure
- Which approach would be most helpful in resolving parents' objections to school offerings?
- Opt-out programs (child excused if parent objects)
- Opt-in programs (parental permission required in advance)
- More parent input when school offerings are being planned
At the end of the phone survey, you will be given an opportunity to leave a short recorded message. Thanks for responding!