Survey: Americans Demanding End to Government Schools
Given the dreadful recent news about government school performance
(see
story above), it's not surprising that many people are looking for
alternatives.
But it might surprise you to learn just how *many* now favor bold change.
According to a national survey commissioned by the Separation of School &
State Alliance and conducted Oct. 22-25 1998, *more than one out of four Americans*
(27%) would support repealing compulsory school attendance and ending tax
support for schooling.
And that number jumps to well over
half (57%) when those opposed to the idea were asked to reconsider, if they
"were assured that there would be enough private scholarships available so
that all poor and disadvantaged students had the chance to go to better
schools than today."
The Separation of School & State Alliance is a project of the Advocates for
Self-Government.
Marshall Fritz, director of the Separation of School &
State Alliance, noted that those with the greatest need to improve their
children's
education are the most responsive to the Separation idea if sufficient
private scholarships are available: Black support jumped from 26% to 61%,
low-income support from 26% to 62%, and ages 18-34 from 28% to 63%.
The poll was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, International,
Princeton, N.J. One thousand and twelve adults were polled, using advanced
probability sampling techniques. Sampling tolerance is plus or minus three
percent.
More information on the poll -- including full text of questions asked -- is
at the Alliance's Web site: http://www.sepschool.org.
(Source: Separation of School and State Alliance)
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