About half of U.S. adults say the country's public K-12 education system is generally going in the wrong direction.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, 51% feel that way while just 16% say it's going in the right direction. About a third (32%) are not sure.
A majority of those who think it's headed in the wrong direction say a major reason is that schools are not spending enough time on core academic subjects like reading, math, science and social studies (69%).
Other reasons include: teachers bringing their personal political and social views into the classroom (54%); schools not having the funding and resources they need (52%); and parents having too much influence in what schools are teaching (26%).
"These findings come amid debates about what is taught in schools, as well as concerns about school budget cuts and students falling behind academically," the poll noted.
Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say the public K-12 education system is going in the wrong direction. About two-thirds of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (65%) say this, compared with 40% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.
"Among Republicans, conservatives are the most likely to say public education is headed in the wrong direction: 75% say this, compared with 52% of moderate or liberal Republicans," the survey pointed out. "There are no significant differences among Democrats by ideology."
On the other hand, 23% of Democrats and 10% of Republicans say public education is headed in the right direction.
The research center noted that Americans in both parties have different opinions when it comes to why the public education system is headed in the wrong direction.
According to the data, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say major reasons are: a lack of focus on core academic subjects (79% vs. 55%); and teachers bringing their personal views into the classroom (76% vs. 23%). Meanwhile, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to point to: insufficient school funding and resources (78% vs. 33%); and parents having too much say in what schools are teaching (46% vs. 13%).
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