Teacher Survey

Teacher Survey

Circle the letter of the statement with which you most agree.

Feel free to underline any portion of a question that is especially applicable for you.

1. A. In recent years our schools are experiencing more local control.

B. In recent years our schools are experiencing more government control.

2. A. State and/or federally required teacher staff development programs and workshops are
significantly improving academic achievement.

B. State and/or federally required teacher staff development programs and workshops are
of little value and are a poor use of taxpayers' money.

3. A. In recent years I have experienced more freedom to use curriculum, teaching techniques,
and methods that I know are effective in raising student achievement.

B. In recent years I have been encouraged and/or coerced to use curriculum, teaching
techniques, or methods that are ineffective or even destructive to student achievement.

4. A. Aligning school curriculum with the state tests will better educate our students.

B. Aligning school curriculum with state tests may make the scores look better but actually

provide less education.

5. A. The State Department of Education is placing the right amount of emphasis on improving
test scores.

B. The State Department of Education is placing too much emphasis on test scores and is
coercing teachers to teach to the test.

6. A. In recent years the quality of education has steadily or significantly improved.

B. In recent years the quality of education has steadily or rapidly declined.

7. A. Teachers have had significant input into new educational reforms.

B. The new educational reforms have been a top down approach with educational
bureaucrats and/or legislators making most or all the significant decisions.

8. A. State mandated COE staff development is an effective method of improving student

achievement.

B. COE staff development is of little value in improving student achievement and is an
ineffective use of teachers' time.

9. A. I feel free to publicly express my opinions about educational reform without fear of negative
consequences.

B. I do not feel free to publicly express my opinions about educational reforms.

10. A. State standards and curriculum frameworks are superior to teacher prepared curricula..

B. Teacher prepared curricula are superior to state standards and frameworks.

11. A. The recent educational reforms have improved my working conditions or made my job more

satisfying.

B. The recent educational reforms have contributed to more job dissatisfaction or caused me to
look for other employment.

12. A. Competition among students in the classroom is harmful to students and the educational
environment and should not be used in today's schools.

B. Competition in the form of classroom activities, grades, and scholarships increases academic
achievement and improves the educational environment.

13. A. Portfolios, rubrics, and checklists are more effective forms of reporting student achievement
than traditional letter grades and percentages.

B. Traditional letter grades and percentages are still the most effective forms of reporting
student achievement.

14. A. The state's ACTAP testing system (criterion referenced tests such as the new benchmark 4th
grade, 8th grade, and high school end of level exams which took the place of the exit exam)
is a better reflection of student achievement than the SAT-9 standardized tests.

B. The SAT-9 standardized tests that compare test scores to the rest of the nation reflect
student achievement better than the state's ACTAP testing system.

15. A. An accountability or merit-type system that rewards individual teachers or schools for
improved test scores will have positive results and improve education.

       B. An accountability system that rewards individual teachers or schools for improved test scores
            will have more negative consequences than positive (like placing too much emphasis on test
            items, causing more cheating, and demoralizing teachers.)

16. A. New and/or national certification of teachers will increase the teacher's ability to improve the
quality of education.

B. Money spent on new and/or national certification will not increase the teacher's ability to
improve the quality of education and will be an ineffective use of scarce funds.

17. A. Smart Start (currently used in grades K-4), ELLA, and McRat are good programs
that will
improve the quality of education in Arkansas.

B. Smart Start, ELLA, and McRat are top down approaches to education that add to the
teacher's workload but will not improve the quality of education in Arkansas.

18. A. Smart Start, the testing system in Arkansas, and other educational reforms are clearly
understood by educators, board members, and the public.

       B. Smart Start, the testing system in Arkansas, and other educational reforms are
            confusing, complex, and easily misinterpreted by educators, board members, and
            the public.

19. A. Academic Distress laws that punish schools for low scores and allow the state to
take over
a school are fair and will result in better education.

     B. Academic distress laws that punish schools for low scores and allow the state
            to take over school are unfair and will have more negative consequences than
            positive ones.

20. In order to have the most effective educational system, which of the following should
choose the curriculum and methods to use in the classroom. Rank in order of importance

from 1-7.

_____ teachers _____ state department of education

_____ principals _____ state government

_____ superintendents _____ federal government

_____ school board members

Please add any comments you have on the lines below. We would like teachers to
critique this survey and help us improve it, so feel free to do so and give us suggestions
about questions that could be improved or added to this Survey. Feel free to write your own questions. We may think they are better than ours.

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If anyone would like to use this survey for your school or for some other purpose e-mail: