Voluntary lateral transfer of students from selected Seventh-day Adventist secondary day schools - Parent and student attitudes and reasons (Attrition, California)

The purpose of this study was to examine student and parent perceptions of the educational philosophy, academic program, social climate, spiritual climate, moral climate, staff adequacy, or other factors that might contribute to discontinuance of attendance at selected Seventh-day Adventist secondary day schools in Northern and Central California.

Survey instruments were mailed to students and parents of the students who were enrolled at the close of the 1982-83 school year, who failed to enroll for the 1983-84 school year. Instruments were also mailed to a control group of students and the parents of students who re-enrolled for the 1983-84 school year. Of the 125 instruments mailed to each of the four groups, transfer students returned 36 percent; transfer parents returned 41 percent; attending students returned 48 percent; attending parents returned 49 percent. The data analysis included frequencies, percentages, Chi-square measures, Spearman correlations, and a program which included t-tests and Hotellings T-squared for multivariate analysis.

The most significant finding of the study was the perception that Seventh-day Adventist secondary boarding schools provide an education superior to Seventh-day Adventist secondary day schools. No other dependent variable of this study demonstrated a significant level of disagreement between the two groups of students and their parents.

Conclusions: The following are study conclusions: (1) An absence of high valuing of Seventh-day Adventist education was perceived; (2) Decisions to transfer from Seventh-day Adventist schools is not reported to be generally based on religious or philosophical issues; (3) Parents express a desire for more school staff assistance with academic, social, and spiritual concerns; (4) Parents desire greater participation in school procedures; (5) A perception prevails that Christian behavior and social morality is lacking in the schools; (6) Parents and students desire improved disciplinary practices and an expanded curriculum; (7) Administrators' and teachers' performances are perceived as inadequate in many areas of Seventh-day Adventist secondary day school education.

From the conclusions it was recommended that: (1) Study be given to the perception that boarding schools are educationally superior to day schools; (2) Institutions that develop personnel for Seventh-day Adventist secondary schools seek to develop personnel whose perspectives and skills match the contemporary social milieu. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)

Availability:
For Sale
Publication Date:
1986
Author:
Gayle E Rhoads
Order Information:
Full-text available online through ProQuest Digital Dissertations
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Unpublished Plans & Papers; Internet Resources
Resource Objective:
Administration & Leadership; Research
Level:
Kindergarten-Grade 12
Audience:
Administrator / Leader, Parent / Informal Education, Researcher
Religious Origin:
Seventh-day Adventist