A Sense of Calling

Special Edition

Introduction

Concern One

Concern Two

Concern Three

Concern Four

Concern Five

Concern Six

Class Discussion

Methodology and Sponsors

Compare Yourself

Get the Complete Study

Compare Your Views

One of Public Agenda's goals in A Sense of Calling was to find out what attracts people to the teaching profession. In our survey, we identified college graduates who said they would consider teaching as a career and asked them a series of questions to find out what would motivate them to enter the classroom. You'll find some of those questions below. Answer them yourself and see how your views compare with the national sample.

If you'd like more information about how public opinion surveys are conducted, visit our About Polling section.

1. Suppose teaching paid a lot more than it does now. Would this make you a lot more likely to consider becoming a public school teacher, a little more likely, or would it make no difference?
Your Opinion (choose one) A Lot More Likely A Little More Likely No Difference

2. Suppose you would be making a difference in the lives of at-risk kids headed for failure in school. Would this make you a lot more likely to consider becoming a public school teacher, a little more likely, or would it make no difference?
Your Opinion (choose one) A Lot More Likely A Little More Likely No Difference

3. Suppose you were looking to make a career change and could be a teacher without going back to school. Would this make you a lot more likely to consider becoming a public school teacher, a little more likely, or would it make no difference?
Your Opinion (choose one) A Lot More Likely A Little More Likely No Difference

4. Suppose you knew you'd be teaching kids who were well-behaved and eager to learn. Would this make you a lot more likely to consider becoming a public school teacher, a little more likely, or would it make no difference?
Your Opinion (choose one) A Lot More Likely A Little More Likely No Difference

Curious about how public opinion surveys are conducted? Wondering how 1,200 people can represent the entire country? You can find answers in our About Polling section, including:

20 Questions Journalists Should Ask About Poll Results: A handy checklist that can help you figure out whether a survey is trustworthy.
Best Estimates: A Guide to Sample Size and Margin of Error: How can a few thousand people stand in for the entire country? And how do they pick those people?
The Seven Stages of Public Opinion: You know that survey results vary depending on what questions are asked, who is asked, and how. But when you ask is just as important.