THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF EDUCATION IN MARYLAND. FINAL REPORT

QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES FROM 896 COMMUNITY LEADERS (55 PERCENT OF TOTAL SAMPLE OF 1,643), REPRESENTING 11 GROUPS CONCERNED WITH EDUCATION IN MARYLAND, WERE STATISTICALLY ANALYZED TO DETERMINE HOW COMMUNITY LEADERS VIEW THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHAT THEY CONSIDER THE DESIRABLE GOALS AND MAJOR PROBLEMS OF THE SCHOOLS AND HOW WELL THEY ARE BEING MET, AND HOW THEY BELIEVE SCHOOLS CAN MEET FUTURE DEMANDS AND RISING COSTS. RESPONDENTS INCLUDED STATE LEGISLATORS, LOCAL POLITICAL OFFICIALS, BOARDS OF EDUCATION, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS, CLASSROOM INSTRUCTORS, PTA PRESIDENTS, BUSINESSMEN, INDUSTRIALISTS, LABOR AND FARM LEADERS, WONEN'S CLUB OFFICERS, AND COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES. THROUGH AN ANALYSIS OF RETURNS BY GROUPS, OCCUPATIONS, GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS, SCHOOL BACKGROUNDS, AND EVALUATIONS OF SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE SYMPATHETICALLY INTERESTED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SHOW HIGH AGREEMENT ON PARTICULAR ISSUES, AND PLACE HEAVY EMPHASIS ON INTELLECTUAL TRAINING, RAISING TEACHER STATUS, SMALLER CLASSES, INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION, BETTER COUNSELING, CHALLENGING STUDENTS TO MEET THEIR POTENTIALS, UPDATING VOCATIONAL TRAINING, IMPROVING SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS, AND MORE STATE AID. TABULATED FINDINGS, INSTRUMENTS USED, AND MATERIAL COLLATERAL TO THE STUDY ARE APPENDED. (JK)