Eric Plutzer News Today

Americans are deeply split over whether gender identity should be taught in school, according to two polls released this week that underscored the extent of the divide on one of the most contested topics in education. Many groups, including Democrats, teachers and teenagers, are split on whether schools should teach about gender identity — a person’s internal sense of their own gender and whether it aligns with their sex assigned at birth, according to a survey by researchers at th...

How much do Americans really care about democracy? The disturbing answer: Less and less, especially among the young. | Opinion

A new study suggests there has been “substantial reductions in overtly creationist instruction” in United States public high schools in the last 12 years while there’s been a spike in the time teachers “devote to human evolution and general evolutionary processes.”

When the Republican presidential candidates gather for their first debate this week, the encounter is likely to center on the legal problems of the man all of them are chasing.

The poll found three-quarters of American adults endorse democracy as the best system of government, but only 16 percent say they feel comfortable talking about politics with everyone.

About 75% of Americans say they believe democracy is the best form of government. Only 16% say they feel comfortable talking about politics with everyone.

In response to the findings, poll director Eric Plutzer, Ph.D. stated, “Half of all Americans want schools to go beyond the 19th century and provide children with an opportunity to learn about race and society today, while the other half is clearly uncomfortable with that. The 50-50 split helps explain why these issues are so divisive in school districts across the nation.”

The McCourtney Institute's Mood of the Nation poll was conducted last month and covered people's thoughts on topics ranging from classroom discussions to a teen's preferred pronouns to books with gay, lesbian or bisexual characters.

Michael Berkman (Ph.D., Indiana University) is a professor in the Department of Political Science and the director of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy. Berkman’s research focuses on American politics, particularly American state politics and policy. His most recent research, funded by the National Science Foundation, focuses on state Transitional Aid to Needy Families (TANF) programs. Along with Eric Plutzer, Berkman has published two books on state education policy: Evolution, Creationi...