Comparative Class Performances and Gains in Junior College Health Education

Abstract

With endorsement of professional and official agencies, a study committee conducted a voluntary project to determine the health knowledge achievement of students in the two-unit health course required for graduation in the public junior colleges of California. A standardized test was given to over 5,000 students in 118 hygiene classes in 34 junior colleges at the beginning of the course, and again at its close. Although statistically significant gains were made in all institutions and in nearly all classes, the end-term mean achievement of 58.8 percent leaves much to be desired. The wide range of individual and class scores indicates the need for routine pretesting, with analysis and follow-up by remedial teaching to correct the disclosed deficiencies.