Association releases teacher political survey

A conservative association representing Iowa teachers, administrators andsupport staff has released a survey of members on current political topics. The survey of members of the Professional Educators of Iowa shows educatorswant to improve the way kids act in public schools.P-E-I State Director Jim Hawkins says members overwhelmingly said they facetoo much paperwork and aren’t in favor of making the school day or schoolyear longer. Hawkins says members also believe the schools that trainteachers should face increased standards for the teachers they turn out. Hawkins says a majority of those surveyed believe the U-S Department ofEducation isn’t doing the job it should.On another controversial topic, 75-percent said they favored displaying theTen Commandments in schools. Hawkins says 311 of the association’s 14-hundredmemnbers responded to the survey. Hawkins says P-E-I was formed as a bipartisanalternative to the Iowa State Education Association, which is the largeststate teacher’s union.