Table 5.4b. Percentage of teachers who view certain issues as serious problems in their schools, by school type: 1999-2000
Problem
All teachers
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) schools1
Non-BIA public schools with 25 percent or more American Indian/Alaska Native student enrollment
Non-BIA public schools with less than 25 percent American Indian/Alaska Native student enrollment
Students coming to school unprepared
29.5
50.7
46.9
29.4
Lack of parent involvement
23.7
46.3
40.2
23.5
Student apathy
20.6
32.6
31.0
20.5
Poverty
19.2
45.6
41.0
19.0
Student disrespect for teachers
17.2
29.8
23.8
17.1
Student absenteeism
13.8
38.5
29.4
13.7
Student tardiness
10.1
19.9
15.1
10.1
Student use of alcohol
7.4
16.9
14.8
7.3
Student drug abuse
6.0
20.9
13.0
5.9
Physical conflicts among students
4.8
10.2
7.3
4.8
Students cutting class
4.7
16.8
7.9
4.7
Students dropping out
4.6
21.4
11.8
4.5
Poor student health
4.3
11.2
8.5
4.2
Student pregnancy
3.7
6.3
7.3
3.6
Vandalism of school property
3.4
13.2
6.1
3.4
Robbery or theft
2.4
8.4
5.8
2.3
Teacher absenteeism
2.2
9.1
2.9
2.2
Student possession of weapons
0.8
1.6
1.3
0.8
1 BIA-funded schools.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), "Public School Survey," "Public Charter School Survey," and "Indian School Survey," 1999-2000.
