January 21, 2010 - Merit Pay For Good Teachers, But Fire Bad Teachers, New Jersey Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Voters Oppose Expansion Of Charter Schools Word format Merit pay for outstanding teachers is a good idea, New Jersey voters say 66 - 31 percent, and firing bad teachers should be easier, voters say 64 - 31 percent, in a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters with children in public school support merit pay 68 - 30 percent and support easier firings 66 - 30 percent, independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Union households support merit pay 60 - 38 percent and easier firings 59 - 33 percent. Black voters oppose the idea of making it easier to fire a teacher 54 - 38 percent, while white voters support it 72 - 23 percent. Men take a stronger position on firing teachers, backing the idea 68 - 27 percent, compared to 60 - 35 percent support among women. New Jersey voters oppose 52 - 40 percent expanding charter schools. Opposition is stronger among union households, 65 - 29 percent, and among parents of public school students, 55 - 38 percent. Voters in urban areas support charter schools 53 - 43 percent, as do black voters 52 - 43 percent, but the measure fails in all other areas of the state. Even Republicans oppose charter school expansion 51 - 39 percent. "New Jersey's new Governor, Christopher Christie, and Education Commissioner Bret Schundler like merit pay for good teachers. So do voters, by margins topping 2-1. As a bonus, voters think it ought to be easier to fire bad teachers," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "But Gov. Christie's and Commissioner Schundler's support for charter schools doesn't resonate with voters, except for black, urban voters who are most dissatisfied with their public schools." New Jersey voters believe 66 - 27 percent that Christie will get tough with teachers' unions. Voters say 48 - 39 percent that teacher unions are playing a negative role in improving the state's education system. Parents of public school students say 47 - 43 percent that teacher unions play a negative role. Teacher unions play a positive role, according to voters in union households, 55 - 34 percent, and black voters, 53 - 29 percent. Public school teacher salaries in New Jersey are too high, 22 percent of voters say, while 28 percent say they're too low and 44 percent say they're about right. "Maybe it was the campaign rhetoric. Maybe it's the Schundler appointment. Whatever, New Jerseyans expect Christie to get tough with a long-time sacred cow, the teachers union. "The teachers' unions get bad marks. Almost half say they're a negative influence," Carroll said. "But individual teachers don't score badly. Their pay level is either too low or just about right, three-fourths of voters say." From January 13 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,175 New Jersey voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and nationally as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 28. Do you think New Jersey public school teacher salaries are too high, too low or about right? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Too high 22% 33% 9% 26% 28% 16% 25% 4% Too low 28 16 41 21 29 27 21 51 About right 44 45 42 45 38 49 48 36 DK/NA 7 6 7 8 5 9 7 9 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Too high 16% 20% 15% 22% 24% 22% 25% Too low 35 32 41 31 17 24 22 About right 46 42 38 39 49 50 46 DK/NA 3 5 6 8 10 4 8 29. Generally speaking, do you believe the teachers' unions are playing a positive or a negative role in improving New Jersey's educational system? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Positive 39% 22% 58% 35% 37% 42% 34% 53% Negative 48 66 31 53 53 44 53 29 DK/NA 12 12 12 12 10 15 13 18 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Positive 55% 43% 50% 43% 28% 40% 33% Negative 34 47 36 44 59 52 52 DK/NA 11 10 14 13 13 8 15 Trend: Generally speaking, do you believe the teachers' unions are playing a positive or a negative role in improving New Jersey's educational system? Jan 21 Oct 15 2010 2009 Positive 39 45 Negative 48 43 DK/NA 12 11 30. Some people say that public school teachers who do an outstanding job should be rewarded with additional pay - so called merit pay. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 66% 63% 68% 66% 70% 62% 66% 58% Bad idea 31 35 30 30 27 36 32 38 DK/NA 3 2 2 4 3 2 2 4 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Good idea 60% 68% 73% 63% 71% 58% 70% Bad idea 38 30 23 36 28 35 28 DK/NA 2 3 4 - 1 7 2 Trend: Some people say that public school teachers who do an outstanding job should be rewarded with additional pay so called merit pay. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Jan 21 Oct 15 2010 2009 Good idea 66 70 Bad idea 31 27 DK/NA 3 3 31. Some people have suggested firing public school teachers should be made easier. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 64% 76% 52% 67% 68% 60% 72% 38% Bad idea 31 21 42 28 27 35 23 54 DK/NA 5 3 7 5 4 6 5 8 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Good idea 59% 66% 52% 62% 74% 64% 68% Bad idea 33 30 44 32 21 30 28 DK/NA 7 4 3 6 5 6 4 Trend: Some people have suggested firing public school teachers should be made easier. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Jan 21 Oct 15 2010 2009 Good idea 64 64 Bad idea 31 30 DK/NA 5 6 32. As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations. The schools are paid for with tax dollars. Do you think there should be an expansion of charter schools in New Jersey or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 40% 39% 39% 43% 42% 38% 38% 52% No 52 51 54 50 50 54 54 43 DK/NA 8 10 7 7 7 8 9 5 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 29% 38% 53% 37% 36% 41% 38% No 65 55 43 56 55 48 54 DK/NA 6 7 4 7 9 11 7 TREND: As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations. The schools are paid for with tax dollars. Do you think there should be an expansion of charter schools in New Jersey or not? Jan 21 Nov 24 2010 2009 Yes 40 38 No 52 55 DK/NA 8 7 33. Do you think Governor Christie will or will not get tough with the teachers' unions? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Will 66% 77% 60% 65% 70% 63% 68% 62% Will not 27 19 30 27 25 28 25 32 DK/NA 7 4 10 8 5 9 7 6 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Will 72% 62% 65% 68% 72% 58% 65% Will not 21 27 27 25 24 31 29 DK/NA 7 10 8 7 5 11 6
