HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MAY 1998 WINNIPEG SCHOOL DIVISION NO.1 PARENT SURVEY

Home

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MAY 1998
WINNIPEG SCHOOL DIVISION NO.1
PARENT SURVEY

The Winnipeg School Division No.1 conducted a survey of Division parents in May 1998. The following results are based on the weighted responses of 4,930 parents. Responses were weighted so that each school was represented in proportion to its estimated parent population. A survey sample of this size for our Division means that the results are accurate within plus or minus 1.3%, 19 out of 20 times. Percentages reported below are based on the 4,930 respondents.

Parents' & Students' Background

Respondents reflect the multicultural makeup of the Division. The most frequently reported groups were British (35%), Aboriginal (16% - this excludes Métis), Filipino (15%), German (15%), and Ukrainian (14%).

The percentage of students who lived with both parents was 72%. This compares favourably to the reported Division statistic of 68% for the 1996/97 school year.

64% of parents had been at the school three or more times during the school year.

65% of the respondents have had children attending school in the Division for more than three years.

Parents had high expectations for their children - 59% thought that their child would obtain a university degree and another 19% thought their child would obtain a community college diploma.

School/Community Relations

Over 74% of the parents agreed or strongly agreed with the following statements:

parent/teacher conferences were useful (86%);

they felt that they could talk to teachers or other staff about suggestions or concerns (85%);

parents were encouraged to be involved with their school (78%);

they felt that they could talk to the school administration about suggestions or concerns (76%); and

parents received enough information about their children (75%).

72% of the parents whose children were transported by school bus were satisfied with the service.

Fewer parents (65%) were in agreement that the parent council provided an important service, however a significant percentage of parents were not familiar with the service of the parent councils (14%).

School Climate/Atmosphere

Most parents (81%) felt welcome at their child's school and many (80%) agreed that their children said good things about their school.

75% agreed or strongly agreed that the school taught their children how to get along with others and 72% felt that their child was safe at school.

68% agreed or strongly agreed that discipline was handled well and 69% agreed or strongly agreed that other people said good things about the school.

School Staff

More than 75% of respondents were satisfied with the jobs being done by the teachers (80%), principals/vice-principals (77%), secretaries and teaching assistants (76%). Fewer parents were able to comment on the performance of caretakers. A number (17%) said they "Don't Know" but many (68%) gave positive ratings.

Fund Raising & Additional Spending

Most parents (56%) felt that the amount of time spent on fund raising by the school was just right - a number of parents were unsure (27%).

A similar percentage of parents (54%) felt that the amount of money they paid for additional education related expenses was just right. These included expenses for supplies, lunch program, bussing and extracurricular activities. Twenty percent of parents felt they were paying too much.

The average yearly cost per child for these additional expenses for those parents that paid for them were as follows:

School supplies $ 83

Lunch programs $183

Bussing $267

Extracurricular activities $134.

Teaching and Learning

Over 80% of the parents agreed or strongly agreed that the information they received about their child's progress was clear and easy to understand and that the school encouraged students to be accepting of people of all cultures, races, and abilities.

Over 68% of the parents agreed or strongly agreed with the following statements:

satisfied with the quality of education provided by the school (76%);

satisfied with the teaching of basic skills (75%);

satisfied with the teaching of problem solving and thinking skills (73%);

their child was receiving extra help from teachers (71%);

the school encouraged self-control in students (75%);

the school developed students' self-esteem (69%);

the school provides a variety of extra-curricular activities (69%).

58% of the parents agreed that their child was being well prepared for tomorrow's jobs and 57% agreed that there were enough resource materials in the school.

49% of parents were aware of the curriculum requirements for their child's grade.

44% thought the curriculum requirements were being covered but 35% did not know if they were.

School Division

42% of parents did not know how well the Division managed its finances and 21% indicated that the finances were managed well.

31% of respondents knew the responsibilities of the Trustees and the superintendents, and from 26-28% knew whom their trustees and superintendents were.

62% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the quality of education provided by the Division.

Funding for Public Education

73% of parents felt that funding for public education should be increased.

73% felt that any increase should come from increases in provincial support or grants.

Only 15% felt that any increase should come from increased property taxes.

Homework and Testing

Parents felt that students should be spending more time doing homework - 27% said their child spent an hour or more doing homework on a weeknight but 37% felt their child should spend an hour or more doing homework.

Parents consider classroom tests and assignments (92%), and teacher observations (93%) to be the most important ways to monitor student progress. This was followed closely by the use of student portfolios (89%).

A significant number of parents also see provincial exams (72%), local school-made tests (72%), and Division-wide exams (69%) as important or very important means of monitoring student progress.

Parents' Comments and Suggestions

57% of parents provided examples of what their school was doing well. The two most frequent examples were the quality of teaching and programs, and general satisfaction overall.

When asked to provide suggestions for how to improve their school most parents indicated that they had no suggestions or did not answer (67%) and there was little consensus among those that provided suggestions.

68% of parents did not have any concerns regarding their child's education that they believed were not being addressed by the Division. There was little commonality to the concerns that were raised.

Few parents (26%) offered suggestions for how the Division could improve the quality of education to students. The most frequently sited example was to increase funding (4%).

About one-half of the parents (49%) identified important issues facing the Division. By far the most important issue given was the need for more funding (22%), followed by concerns with gangs, violence and bullying (8%) and the quality of education (6%).