Public attitudes toward education in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Hardiman, Blaine Grandy (1990) Public attitudes toward education in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the general public's attitudes toward the current education system in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and the issues that this system may have to deal with in the future. -- This study addressed the following issues: (a) level of importance of a good education; (b) level of importance of certain goals of education; (c) satisfaction with aspects of administration, teaching, and student life; (d) satisfaction with selected courses, programs, services, and facilities; (e) grading of the schools; (f) areas to which schools need pay more attention; (g) financing education; (h) denominational education and inter-denominational sharing of services; and (i) the willingness of the public to become participants in educational support groups or decision making bodies. -- The questionnaire designed for the study was hand-delivered to 388 sample members; 360 completed returns were picked up for a return rate of 92.8%. The results for the 73 items on the questionnaire were presented for the whole sample, and as well they were broken down by eight independent variables: (a) age; (b) religious affiliation; (c) children in school; (d) school system; (e) level of education; (f) length of residency in the community; (g) posted by their employer into the community; and (g) native ancestry. Analysis of variance was used to determine if there were any significant differences within the independent variables, and the Scheffé test was used to identify where statistically significant differences existed. The mean responses of those with and those without children in school differed more often than any other groups within the independent variables. -- This study found that the people of Happy Valley-Goose Bay were generally satisfied with the current education system in place and gave the local schools fairly high marks. Teaching of the basics was considered to be very important along with providing more educational programs in the following areas: (a) alcohol and drug education, (b) sex education, (c) computer education, (d) life skills, and (e) career connseling. They felt that more money was needed to provide a high quality education for all students and that changes had to be made to the current denominational system of education. Of the respondents who wanted changes made to the current system, the largest percentage would like to see one school board serving the needs of all children in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

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