The relationship between selected characteristics and attitudes of Texas secondary horticulture students and teachers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain teacher and program characteristics that influence students' attitudes about horticulture education and to determine if a relationship existed between: selected characteristics and attitudes of Texas secondary students and teachers. The students and teachers were administered a survey to assess relationships between their attitudes and selected characteristics. The analysis of data revealed many relationships existed between the attitudes and selected characteristics. The more experience the teacher had teaching horticulture, the more the students liked the horticulture subject matter. The more work experience the teacher had in horticulture, the more positive the students felt toward their class. Those teachers with more horticulture teaching experience indicated they liked teaching horticulture more than those teachers with fewer years of experience teaching horticulture. Those students not involved in the FFA generally had an overall lower attitude score. The female students liked the subject matter horticulture more than the male students. Those students with outside projects had more positive attitudes toward the scales, Technical Horticulture, Class Experience, and Teacher Impression. Efforts should be made to prepare new teachers to teach horticulture through pre-service and in-service programs. Teachers should coordinate efforts with county extension agents to involve horticulture students in 4-H. Overall, the teachers surveyed felt horticulture should be taught in secondary schools and the students had a positive attitude toward the horticulture class.