The Nation - News from Dec. 13, 1988

A vast majority of American teachers say that abused, neglected or sick children are serious problems in their schools and that teachers have little impact on the education process, despite publicized reforms, a report said. A growing gap between the home and school, blamed on parental disinterest in their children’s education, also troubles teachers, according to the report from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The report, “The Condition of Teaching: A State-by-State Analysis, 1988,” was based on a national survey of 22,000 public schoolteachers. Among the highlights: 90% of teachers say lack of parental support is a problem, 89% report abused or neglected children in their classes, nearly 70% cite sick and undernourished students.