The implementation of the educational philosophy of Avondale High School

The Seventh-day Adventist Church school system, which grew from American church-oriented primary schools estab¬lished first in the 1850s, has attempted to implement an educational philosophy formulated from 1872 onwards, largely by Ellen White, the church's prophetess. But there has been division amongst church members over whether Adventist schools, both worldwide and in Australia, have implemented this philosophy effectively. To investigate the differing expectations of school clientele in the Australian context, this case study of an Adventist high school in New South Wales, has gathered data on different perceptions of the effectiveness with which the school implemented its Adventist philosophy. The study also investigated perceptions of the influences which facilitated or hindered the implementation of the philosophy. The researcher interviewed a group of sixty-nine informants, comprised of teachers, students, parents, and pastors and administrators.

Most informants thought that the school was a good school, and that it implemented its philosophy well, though a significant number of teachers, and pastors and administrators were cautious in their appraisals, and thought that the school had not devised sufficient methods for implementing the intentions of the philosophy. The most important influences affecting the implementation of the philosophy, were teacher characteristics, the nature of school aims, and church beliefs. The study concluded that the school relied substantially on social imitation to implement the philosophy, and that it had not devised overarching plans for implementing the philosophy. Options for increasing the congruence between the school's philosophical intentions and curriculum practices were suggested.

Availability:
Free
Publication Date:
1982
Author:
Barry Hill
Order Information:
Copy available from Avondale E.G. White Centre [370.1 H55]
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Unpublished Plans & Papers
Resource Objective:
Research
Level:
Grade 7-Grade 12
Audience:
Administrator / Leader, Researcher
Religious Origin:
Seventh-day Adventist