N.C. opinions surveyed on school vouchers, stem cells
Published: Mon, Oct. 06, 2008 02:16PM
Modified Mon, Oct. 06, 2008 02:24PM
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closeNearly half of the North Carolina residents surveyed last week expressed opposition to school vouchers, while a majority are in favor of stem cell research, according to an Elon University poll released this morning.
The four-day poll surveyed 477 adults and was conducted from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2. The poll has a margin of sampling error of 4.6 percentage points, according to the university.
When asked whether parents who choose to educate their children in private or religious schools should receive a voucher from the state for their child's education, 49.1 percent of the respondents said they either disagree or strongly disagree. Another 41.5 percent said they either agree or strongly agree.
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In the same survey, 45.6 percent of the respondents said school vouchers will weaken public schools, while 40.7 percent said they will strengthen public schools.
In situations where school funding levels were inequal across districts statewide, 77.8 percent of the respondents agreed that the state should give money to ensure that all school districts spend about the same amount for each student. And when asked if they thought the state should be involved in determining how local school districts manage their affairs, 64.3 percent said yes.
The poll indicated that not all respondents were clear about the different types of stem cells being used for research. Of those surveyed, 36.8 percent said they were either "not at all clear" or "not real clear" on the difference between stem cells that come from human embryos, from adults and from other sources such as an umbilical cord (Another 59.8 percent said they were clear or "very clear" on the differences, according to Elon.)
When asked, however, for their overall opinion on medical research involving stem cells from human embryos, a majority (53.4 percent) said they either support or "strongly support" it. Another 30.8 percent said they oppose or "strongly oppose" it.
Overall, 51.1 percent of those surveyed said they support or strongly support public funding for stem cell research.
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