While parents often fare poorly in teacher surveys, in one Chicago survey they got a good measure of approval from their children’s own teachers.
In 1996, the Consortium on Chicago School Research asked Chicago’s elementary teachers: How many of your students’ parents support your teaching efforts? The responses were: nearly all, 29%; most, 43%; about half 10%; some, 17%; none, 1%. Teachers also were asked how many parents do their best to help their children learn. The responses were: nearly all, 11%; most, 33%; about half 23%; some, 32%; none, 1%.
A similar discrepancy typically emerges when parents and the general public are asked to assess schools in general and their neighborhood schools—the latter get higher marks.