Health Education in a Sample of Seventh-day Adventist Academies in North America

Abstract

Ninety-three questionnaires were sent out to health-education teachers employed in Seventh-day Adventist academies in North America. Of those sent out, 38 (35.3%) were completed and returned. Consequently, with such a small sample, any generalizations made from the findings should be done with caution. Respondents were asked about their academic preparation, use and evaluation of curriculum guides and textbooks, interest and desire to further their education in health education, and their personal rating of their current knowledge of health issues. In this sample, 40% of the respondents had no direct training in health education, while those with stronger backgrounds expressed more willingness to take continuing education credits to increase their teaching effectiveness. Although teachers are encouraged to use curriculum guides, only 26% admitted to using them frequently or always. Information is used directly from textbooks in 75% of health-education classes, but none of the respondents rated their textbooks as excellent. It would seem that, with the church's emphasis on health, some further discussion should take place regarding both the preparation of health-education teachers, and the amount of time devoted to health education in academies.