Published: April 1, 1996

Views From The Classroom

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The nation's public school teachers agree with the general public about the importance of teaching basic academic skills, but they disagree over how good a job schools are currently doing, according to a study released in February by the research group Public Agenda.

The study also found that teachers share the public's support for higher academic standards but do not rank such standards among their highest priorities. Teachers, for example, believe that students should not receive high school diplomas unless they demonstrate a clear command of English. But while 76 percent of the public gave this view the highest possible approval rating, only 54 percent...