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Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Dakota Christian High School; High schools--Curricula;

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the curriculum at Dakota Christian High School (DCHS) was meeting the needs of its graduates. An auxiliary purpose_ was to share with the National Union of Christian Schools the findings of the study so that all member schools could have access to the information and thereby improve their own program or interest them in such an evaluation. The data was gathered by use of a questionnaire. Copies of the questionnaire were sent to most of the graduates of the ten graduating classes of DCHS. One hundred seventy-nine graduates were contacted and 85.4 per cent responded. Four members were not sampled because of overseas military duty, death, or inability to locate. The findings could be divided into two categories. First, it was found that the curriculum at DCHS was similar to schools of comparable size reviewed in related literature. In the second place, the graduates of other schools and the graduates of DCHS pointed out similar weaknesses in their respective curriculums. The graduates indicated a definite need of improvement in the commercial area. The major improvement in this area was the need for a full year of typing rather than a semester. The other vocational areas of shop and homemaking also received a considerable amount of attention by the graduates. Other areas which needed improvement in depth as well as breadth were English, mathematics, and science. A careful analysis of Conant's recommendations and the program at DCHS indicated that the most apparent weakness was in the inability of DCHS to provide individualized instruction for its students. From a study of Conant's recommendations, the standards of the State Department of Instruction of South Dakota, and related research and data gathered from questionnaires returned, it could be concluded that to provide for the needs of its graduates, DCHS would have to broaden its curriculum particularly in the vocational areas and concentrate on depth in all subject areas. Recommendations for curriculum revision constituted a three phase program. Immediate action should be taken in (a) improving individualized instruction, (b) strengthening club activities such as Future Teachers and Science Club, and (c) improving library facilities and materials. The program at DCHS should be strengthened within the next two years in (a) guidance and counseling, (b) commercial, social science, and driver training, and (c) a Future Homemaker's Club should be added. The entire program should be evaluated using the Evaluative Criteria as an evaluation instrument. Within the next five years the practical and fine arts should be greatly strengthened. The possibilities of introducing a limited distributive education program should be explored.

Year of Submission

1969

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Department of Education

First Advisor

Walter DeKock

Second Advisor

R. P. Brimm

Third Advisor

Lyle K. Alberts

Comments

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Date Original

1969

Object Description

1 PDF file (96 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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