The Status Of Health And Family Life Education In Connecticut Public Schools.

Overview & Synopsis

A questionnaire was sent to principals of elementary and secondary schools and regional vocational technical schools in Connecticut to determine the status of health education and family life education in Connecticut public schools. The findings based on data from 221 elementary and 210 secondary questionnaires indicated the following trends in health and family life education in the public schools of Connecticut: (1) Most schools do not offer specific health instruction, (2) Family diets and sex education are available to a very limited number of students, (3) Where health instruction is offered it is incidental, integrated with material in other courses, and covers traditional topics, (4) Educators concurred that family life and sex education have a place in public education, that communities in the state will be receptive, and that existing programs have met with generally favorable reaction, (5) There is an expressed need for in-service training programs, (6) Boys and girls are separated for health and family life education, (7) Available resources are not being fully utilized, and (8) Students are not involved in health and family life education curriculum development. (FP)