TEACHERS IMPORTANT

64% of U.S. adults believe teaching is one of the most important jobs in America today; 20% disagree. The same survey found 80% of adults say their teachers were at least somewhat important in shaping the direction of their lives. 39% say teachers were very important in that regard. Just 14% say teachers were not very important in shaping their lives, while just 3% said they were not at all important. 62% say public school education has gotten worse over the past 10 years, while 19% say its gotten better. 53% say private schools provide a better education than public schools.

(Rasmussen Reports Weekly Newsletter 5/7/08)