TeachersFirst asked U.S. teachers what they would tell Barack Obama and John McCain about how to improve American education. The top priority is not money but equity–ensuring that all schools have equal access to adequate facilities, equipment, and materials. Next, teachers want the next President to develop “meaningful alternatives to standardized testing.” The third biggest priority is encouraging parents to work with schools so their children will succeed.
A nonprofit site that offers lesson plans and other resources for teachers, TeachersFirst says it polled “thousands of members, representing all 50 states, almost half of them with 20 or more years of experience.” The survey, which is a non-scientific straw poll, asked the teachers to choose their top three priorities from a list of twelve, including strengthening teacher preparation; improving physical safety; emphasizing math, science, and information literacy; and strengthening early learning and pre-K programs.
The full results are here.
