The Edutopia Poll -- You're Invited to Join the Conversation

By Douglas Cruickshank

The Edutopia Poll is many polls. At present, we post a new one each week -- Wednesday, midday Pacific Time -- and in the future we'll likely do so more frequently. Each poll stays on the home page for seven days. Over time, we'll mix them up -- some will be yes/no, others multiple choice (though as one wag pointed out, yes/no is multiple choice).

A poll is a wind sock of opinion, a snapshot of how you and your colleagues are thinking, and, in the context of Edutopia.org, the place to begin a deeper, more nuanced, and substantive conversation. You can start or participate in such a conversation right here.

To write comments, click on the relevant poll in the list below to go to that poll's blog page. The rest is up to you. We're interested in what you have to say.

• Should a revision of the No Child Left Behind Act give more power to the states and local authorities? 3/13/2007
• Do teacher unions promote education reform? 3/6/2007
• Do the benefits of scripted curricula outweigh the drawbacks? 2/27/2007
• What will do the most to improve middle school education? 2/20/2007
• Should school days be longer? 2/13/2007
• Should schools offer students incentives for academic performance? 2/6/2007
• Should schools regulate student use of online social networks? 1/29/2007
• Would starting school later in the morning improve teenagers' academic performance? 1/23/2007
• What is the greatest challenge to maintaining successful after-school programs? 1/16/2007
• What will do the most to reduce time spent on classroom management? 1/9/2007
• Do today's students have too much homework? 12/19/2006
• Does physical activity improve student focus? 12/12/2006
• Can teachers instill self-confidence in students who aren't learning it at home? 12/5/2006
• Are you in favor of free schools? 11/28/2006
• Do trends in international education influence what you do in the classroom? 11/21/2006
• Should schools increase their emphasis on civic education? 11/14/2006
• Should teachers receive incentive pay for improving student performance? 11/7/2006
• Does your school have healthy parent-teacher partnerships? 10/31/2006
• Should public schools celebrate Halloween? 10/23/2006
• I would use more technology in the classroom if...10/17/2006
• Do you feel comfortable being absent from your classroom? 10/10/2006
• What will do the most to keep teachers in the profession? 10/4/2006
• Should schools be allowed to censor student publications? 9/26/2006
• What can schools do to increase interest in science, technology, engineering, and math? 9/20/2006
• Does teacher gender affect student learning? 9/13/2006
• Is bullying a significant problem at your school? 9/6/2006
• What impact are charter schools having on public education? 8/30/2006
• Should public schools require uniforms? 8/23/2006
• What will do the most to narrow the achievement gap? 8/16/2006
• Can the No Child Left Behind Act be revised and improved? 8/9/2006
• Should after-school programs be an extension of the school day? 8/2/2006
• What is the most effective way to teach English-language learners? 7/26/2006
• Are boys falling behind girls in academic achievement? 7/19/2006
• Are computer and video games effective teaching tools? 7/12/2006
• Does one-to-one computing enhance the learning process? 7/5/2006
• Does your school provide enough unstructured time for students? 6/28/2006
• Do you favor year-round schools? 6/21/2006
• Should high school students be required to declare majors? 6/14/2006
• Can segregated school districts be effective? 6/7/2006
• Should cell phones be allowed at school? 5/31/2006
• What do you see as the greatest challenge in implementing project-based learning? 5/24/2006
• Should a state-mandated exit exam be required for high school graduation? 5/17/2006
• Will banning the sale of soft drinks at schools significantly decrease childhood obesity and related health problems? 5/10/2006
• Is project-based learning superior to textbook-based learning? 5/3/2006
• Should laptops replace textbooks? 4/26/2006
• Does emphasizing social and emotional learning improve student performance? 4/18/2006
• Should classes be separated by gender? 4/11/2006