Community utilization of school facilities : a study of the policies, programs, personnel and problems in selected areas of Newfoundland and Labrador

Lee, William Cartarett (1975) Community utilization of school facilities : a study of the policies, programs, personnel and problems in selected areas of Newfoundland and Labrador. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (44MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

Traditionally, the schools in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador were used to a great extent by the communities which they served. However, with the increase in the number of other facilities available for community use and the consolidation of school boards and schools into larger units, non-school use by the community deemed to decline. Now we are seeing a resurgence of interest in this concept. -- From a review of related literature on community use in the United States and Canada, new ideas and approaches have developed. A philosophy of community education has emerged suggesting that people of the community should make the greatest use possible of their schools to further develop the community as a whole. Community schools have been established as the vehicle by which the philosophy is implemented. -- This study has attempted to ascertain the extent to which specific schools in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador were used by the community. Five aspects of community use were researched: the policies developed, the programs in operation, the personnel using the schools, the problems being experienced, and the prospects for future use. To determine this, three separate instruments were used. A province-wide questionnaire was used to examine policies, programs, personnel, problems, and prospects of one hundred thirty-four (134) schools judged to be used to a great extent. A structured interview was administered to a sample of community leaders, principals and/or coordinators of after-school programs in eight (8) schools chosen for in-depth study. Besides this, a sample of the clientele using these eight (8) schools were questioned to determine their attitude toward the present program and the prospects for future expansion. Finally, a sample of heads of households or their spouses were questioned in one specific community. The purpose here was to obtain views concerning present and future demands for school use by the community. -- Some of the major findings of the study include the following: (1) considerable use is being made of many schools by the community, (2) most extensive use is made for Education, Religious, Recreational and Social purposes, (3) some school board policies do not appear to be clearly understood by school principals and others who responded to the questionnaire and structured interviews, (4) the basic, problems being experienced relate to supervision, cleaning, cost and lack of storage space, (5) there are demands for greater use, particularly for physical fitness, general interest and job upgrading course, and (6) the Provincial Government should accept much of the financial responsibility for community use.

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