Predictions for the Future
Overall secondary school students and teachers are more optimistic than parents
when it comes to the future (Exhibit 10.7). When asked to consider whether the
environment will become cleaner, there will be fewer poor people, schools will pro-
vide a better education, schools will be safer, and people will get along better with
each other, parents of secondary school students (38%) are more likely than students
(23%) or teachers (20%) to say that none of these will happen in the lifetime of teens
today. All three groups -- particularly students and teachers -- are most optimistic
about the future of education. Six in ten students (58%) and teachers (56%) think
that school will provide a better education, as do four in ten (38%) parents.
·
Teachers are more likely than students and parents to say that the environment
will become cleaner (37% vs. 29% and 26% respectively);
·
Students are most optimistic when it comes to poverty. One-third (32%) believe
that there will be fewer poor people, as compared to 12% of teachers and 9% of
parents.
·
Half of students (46%) believe that schools will be safer, compared to four in ten
teachers (39%) and one-quarter of parents (26%).
·
Students, parents and teachers are in closest agreement about the chance for
better human relations. Slightly more than one-quarter of students (28%) and
teachers (27%) and slightly less than one-quarter of parents (22%) believe that
people will get along better with each other.
Exhibit 10.7
Predictions for the Future
Q535/Q570/Q560 Which of the following do you think will happen during [your/your
child's/your students'] lifetime?
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
School
School
School
Students
Parents
Teachers
1067
855
1010
%
%
%
The environment will become cleaner . . .29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
There will be fewer poor people . . . . . . .32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Schools will provide a better education . .58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Schools will be safer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
People will get along better
with each other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
None of these will happen in
[my/my child's/my students'] lifetime . .23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
No answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-
*School Respondents Only
100
