What is school for? A new poll released Monday night shows that Americans are divided on the issue. And in an era when public education has been under attack, most public school parents still think highly of their children’s schools — and an overwhelming majority of Americans do not want failing schools to be closed down but would rather see them improved.
Less than half — 45 percent — of adult Americans say preparing students
academically is the main goal of a public school education, and just one-third
feel that way strongly, the poll found. Other Americans split between saying the main purpose of public schools is to prepare students for work — 25 percent — and for citizenship, 26 percent.
I – Word Understanding
Poll – survey
Era – a period of history
II – Have Your Say
1. Personally, why do you think kids should go to school?
2. When you were a student, what motivated you to go to school?
3. Due to the declining population of students in Japan, some schools have been closed. In the US, failing schools is one of the reasons for closure. Is there such a situation in Japan? What do you think should be done if a school is failing?
561 Why do kids go to school? Americans are divided on the answer, a new poll shows.
