FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Gene Lutz, director, UNI Center for Social and Behavioral Research, (319) 273-2105
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa— Results of the “Iowa 2000 K-12 Public Schools Survey,” conducted by the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Social and Behavioral Research for the Iowa Department of Management, and released today, show that Iowans have generally positive views of current public school quality. However, they also have many concerns for the future.
In a telephone survey of 632 randomly selected adult Iowans, public schools were given grades of “B” or “C”, more so than either “A”, “D” or “F”. In parallel, public school students and teachers were most often assessed to be “somewhat better” or “equal” to their counterparts in other states, but seen less favorably in comparison with other industrialized nations.
Of the many concerns expressed about the schools, inadequate funding, student discipline and lack of quality teachers were most frequently cited. Strategies for improving local schools that had wide public support included reducing elementary class sizes, requiring a fourth grade reading test for advancement to fifth grade, and better training of teachers.
The survey has an approximate maximum sampling error of +/- 4 percent at the standard 95 percent confidence level for estimates based on the total sample.
“Iowans appear to be ready to make some improvements in their public schools, including increasing teacher salaries,” said Gene Lutz, director of the UNI research center. “The public's views are generally consistent with the K-12 policy directions being discussed in the state."
Nearly half of the Iowa respondents (47 percent) said current teacher salaries are too low. But for the future, a 90 percent majority reported that paying higher salaries is “very” or “somewhat” important for attracting better teachers and over 80 percent supported (“strongly” or “mildly”) using state taxes to increase beginning teacher pay. The widest support for increased pay occurred when it was associated with extra responsibilities and demonstrated performance, but there was also significant support for pay to be based on better qualifications, experience and student performance.
The Iowa Department of Management commissioned the K-12 public school study as the sixth annual survey gathering public input on issues important for state planning. Prior studies have addressed economic development, workforce development, personal health, strong families, strong communities, and good government. UNI has collected data for all six studies, and has been in partnership with the other state universities in most years.
“The university's expertise in gathering information on issues of importance to Iowans is invaluable. This data will help guide policy makers as they strive to achieve results valued by Iowans,” said Cynthia Eisenhauer, director, Iowa Department of Management.
On the issue of state versus local control, the public's preference depended on the specific issues at hand. The majority preferred local control for determining teacher pay scales, but supported state standards for student graduation, state assistance for facilities improvements and state assistance for increasing teacher pay.
Lutz said while most findings were consistent across all types of respondents, there were some patterns of differences in public opinion about K-12 schools based on such demographics as gender, education level, age and parent status. But, whether or not they had school-age children, were young or old, were from rural or urban areas, or had less or more formal education, respondents tended to be supportive and concerned about Iowa K-12 public education.
For more information on this study, contact Gene Lutz at (319) 273-2105. Full copies of the study report are available at either of the following: <>http://csbsnt.csbs.uni.edu/dept/csbr/index.html or <> www.state.ia.us/government/dom/index.html.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Harry Brod, associate professor of philosophy and religion, (319) 273-2693
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa —Harry Brod, University of Northern Iowa associate professor of philosophy and religion, will be the next UNI Millennium Lecture Series presenter, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 26, in Davis Hall, Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.
Brod's lecture, “Who Will We Be?: The Future of Gender and Other Identities in the New Millennium,” will present a framework of how shifting conceptions of ethnic, religious and gender identities will impact our lives in the roles that are encountered in everyday life.
During the millennial year, selected members of the UNI faculty are presenting Millennium Lectures, five of which were offered in the spring and five more this fall. All lectures include the presentation of a scholarly paper, and some will include artistic performances and exhibits.
“We see the Millennium Lecture Series as a yearlong conversation among those of us who are fortunate enough to experience this historical moment, which comes just once in 20 lifetimes,” said Aaron Podolefsky, UNI provost and vice-president of academic affairs. “It is an opportunity to consider our histories, our lives today and our futures as individuals, as members of Iowa families and communities, and as members of the larger human family.”
For more information, contact UNI's Office of University Marketing and Public Relations at
(319) 273-2761, or check UNI's Web site at www.uni.edu.
#
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Cheryl Smith, program associate, Iowa Space Grant Consortium, UNI College of Natural Sciences, (319) 273-6809
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa— A 2000 graduate of George Washington High School in Cedar Rapids was awarded a $5,000 scholarship by the Iowa Space Grant Consortium, a NASA-supported organization to promote interest in science, mathematics and technology.
Elizabeth Brown, daughter of Mike and Alice Brown of 4498 Pepperwood Hill S.E., Cedar Rapids, won the scholarship for having the outstanding senior science project at the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair last March. The scholarship can be used at any of the four academic members of the Consortium: the University of Northern Iowa, Drake University, Iowa State University or the University of Iowa.
Brown plans to major in pre-pharmacy at the University of Iowa and to complete the six-year professional pharmacy doctorate (Pharm.D.) program. Her project, titled “Anthocyanins and Other Plant Pigments,” looked at what pigments are in plants besides "chlorophyll a" and what wavelengths of light they absorb. The more the ozone is depleted, according to Brown, the more important it is to discover which plants can use ultraviolet light for photosynthesis.
In her research, she found many plant pigments that absorb ultraviolet light, but most of these pigments were from petals, not from the part of the plant where photosynthesis takes place.
Brown will probably specialize in pharmacognosy, a branch of pharmacology dealing with crude drugs and medicinal plants. She hopes to combine her first interest of research with teaching.
###
##
Back to the news release directory.