Monday, March 23, 2009


Manners matter more than grades, say parents


Good discipline in schools, regular communication with parents and a well-stocked library are more important than academic standards, according to a survey of parents' views of what makes an ideal education.

Almost all parents said manners and good behaviour were vital lessons that schools should teach children. Most parents also agreed that full and stable staffing levels were also essential to a good education, while 74% said a good library was key. In comparison, just 63% of parents rated good overall academic results as a defining feature of an ideal school.

Rather than fearing that their children's education could be damaged by a mixed learning environment, the Ipsos MORI poll also found that parents believe that a broad intake of pupils is "essential" to a good education.

The results reveal that parents are far more liberal towards education than they are generally given credit for, said James Crabtree, acting deputy editor of Prospect magazine, which commissioned the poll of more than 1,000 adults.

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