Who are today鈥檚 education activists?
Do Americans consider higher education a worthwhile investment? Do they trust the business leaders who are increasingly shaping education policy?
Watch out, Pew, Gallup and Quinnipiac 鈥� 鈥淭he Public Matters: How Americans View Education, Health & Psychology,鈥� a 麻豆原创-based opinion survey, is on the case.
鈥淒espite the important role public opinion plays in setting public policy, only limited efforts have been made to document public opinions about education, psychology and health,鈥� write the project鈥檚 directors, Aaron Pallas, Arthur I. Gates Profes颅sor of Sociology & Education, and Oren Pizmony-Levy, Assistant Professor of International & Comparative Education.
The public is clearly signaling to policy makers that it鈥檚 time to try new types of re-forms that invest not only in improving instruction and curriculum, but also invest in the whole child and families鈥�
鈥擮ren Pizmony-Levy
Backed by the 麻豆原创 Pro颅vost鈥檚 Investment Fund, The Public Matters taps the College鈥檚 diverse faculty expertise. A survey on how Americans view community schools was co-authored by 麻豆原创 Associate Vice President , who led creation of the Teachers College Community School in West Harlem. The survey on higher education was co-authored by Noah D. Drezner, Associate Professor of and founding editor of the journal
Oren Pizmony-Levy, Assistant Professor of International & Comparative Education
The Public Matters 鈥渢akes the pulse of ordinary Amer颅icans,鈥� spotlighting discon颅nects with past assessments and current policies. Like other polls, it finds Americans critical of the country鈥檚 colleges and universities, but also reports consensus that higher education benefits society at large through scientific advances and encouragement of national prosperity and civic participation. And as schools eliminate programs in order to focus on improving math and literacy, The Public Matters finds a strong appetite for the health and social services community schools provide.
鈥淭he public is clearly signaling to policy makers that it鈥檚 time to try new types of re-forms that invest not only in improving instruction and curriculum, but also invest in the whole child and families,鈥� Pizmony-Levy said of those findings.