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Show Schoolers, and X Home J Dr. Daryl J. McCarty Executive Secretary Utah Education Association Opinion polls Public opinion polls aren't very good unless they contain some surprises, according to one observer. Instructor Magazine recently polled kids, aged 8-12, throughout the nation. If the standard for polls mentioned in the first paragraph is correct, then the magazine's survey was a good one. What are the students' favorite school subjects? Are you ready for this one? Math ranked number one! Next came gym, reading, science, art, spelling, social studies, creative writing, English and music. Asked about their favorite homework assignments, the kids favored math and reading. Watching television did not rate as the students' favorite thing to do in their free time. First, they want to play outside. Next, they like to read books. TV watching was in third place. The Instructor Magazine poll showed that the students interviewed chose athletics as their number one selection for careers. Other, choices, in order, were movie star or TV entertainer, doctor, teacher, nurse, artist and policeman. Football ranks as the students' favorite sport, but soccer is coming up fast. It's number two. Then comes baseball, swimming, gymnastics, hockey, basketball and tennis, ice skating and downhill skiing. Mentioned many times in the survey as books they enjoyed were Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, Wrinkle in Time, and Little House on the Prairie. Sports and mysteries were high-ranking categories. What is the favorite food of these students? It's pizza. The other favorites, in order, are steak, spaghetti, tacos, hamburger, chicken, ice cream, lobster, lasagna and Chinese food. When asked what they want of their parents, many said they wanted to stay up late, watch TV programs they like and receive larger allowances. But many gave a poignant answer in this day of broken homes: They want their parents to "get back together again." |