With culture war issues playing an increasingly important role in New Jersey’s upcoming election, the New Jersey Education Association today released a new poll that puts a different perspective on parental rights issues that have become part of a push by Republicans to take control of the New Jersey Legislature on November 7 – and for conservatives to take control of their local school boards.
By overwhelming margins, New Jersey voters say it’s up to students to decide when they’re ready to discuss their sexual orientation or gender identity with their parents, that politicians shouldn’t force teachers to “out” their students, and that parents don’t have the right to restrict what books children read other than their own.
Asked if they agree that “it’s up to a student to decide when they are ready to talk to their parents about sexual orientation or gender identity,” 77% of voters agree, and 18% disagree. Among independents, that number is 71%-23%.
More voters (71%) support the idea of students deciding when to share their gender identity with their parents than those who think teachers should be “required to report suspicions about a student’s gender or sexuality to the parents, even without the student’s consent (22%).”
Nearly three-quarters of voters (74%) agree that “politicians shouldn’t force teachers to ‘out’ a student who is gay or is using a different pronoun. Forced outings can harm students mentally or cause bullying. It should be up to the student, not politicians, to decide when to reveal their gender identity.” Eighteen percent oppose the statement; it’s 72%-16% among independents.
Eight in ten voters (80%) agreed that “parents have the right to choose what their children read, but they do not have the right to restrict the reading choices of other children. Banning books limits a parent’s right to make informed decisions about what is appropriate for their own children.” The statement was opposed by 15% of voters asked; Independents back that up by a 75%-14% margin.
Three-quarters (75%) of voters in New Jersey agreed with a statement that “some people are using their personal beliefs as justification to attack LGBTQ+ teachers and students” and that “bullying should not be allowed,” while 18% disagreed. Independents agree by a 75%-14% margin.
Public Policy Polling, a top national polling firm, conducted the poll for the NJEA, the state’s largest public employee union.
“In our current polarized political climate, these results demonstrate that New Jersey voters remain deeply committed to the emotional and educational well-being of students,” said Sean Spiller, the NJEA president and the mayor of Montclair. “The misinformation and disinformation about our public schools that has been flooding our state has certainly done damage to students, parents, and educators alike but it has not broken the fundamental trust New Jersey residents have in our public schools and our educators.”
The poll also offers strong approval ratings for teachers and public schools.
Voters give New Jersey public school teachers a 74%-17% favorable rating, with neighborhood public schools showing favorables of 65%-25%, the poll shows. By a 64%-23% margin, voters concurred with a statement that “New Jersey teachers are good partners with parents in helping students succeed.”
New Jersey teacher’s unions, which became targets for criticism during Chris Christie’s eight years as governor – he continued to attack them during the most recent Republican presidential debate – have favorables of 48%-35%.
More New Jerseyans view their own local school board more favorably than unfavorably, 40%-34%, but the number is not a huge endorsement for the locally-elected officials.
The poll gives Moms for Liberty, a national conservative movement to take control of local school boards, mixed favorables of 25%-29%, with nearly half of New Jersey voters (47%) unfamiliar with the group.
Over one-third of New Jersey voters (35%) said that “keeping students safe from gun violence and mass shootings” is the number one education-related issue. Preventing students from “being exposed to woke ideas about race and gender” was listed as the most important issue by 14% of voters.
“The results of this poll encourage us to continue building those parent partnerships even in the face of politically motivated attempts to divide us. These results also show that New Jersey’s longstanding commitment to the health, safety, and educational well-being of students aligns with the values and priorities of New Jersey voters,” Spiller said. “They should not get distracted by divisive and misleading rhetoric that has no connection to what is really happening in our schools every day.”
The poll was was conducted beteen October 11-12 with a sample size of 592 registered voters and a margin of errror of +/- 4%.
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