Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

5-1998

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Major

Education

Major Professor

Thomas N. Turner

Committee Members

Dorothy Hendricks, John Ray, Theodore Hipple

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate and evaluate teacher attitudes and classroom practices of Knox County high school American history teachers regarding teaching about patriotism. The population identified for the study consisted of forty-four high school American history teachers who represented the thirteen high schools in the Knox County school system.

A survey was developed for the study that consisted of four parts; (1) demographic data, (2) teacher attitudes toward teaching about patriotism, (3) class room practices regarding the teaching about patriotism, and (4) open-ended questions that required teachers to identify the positive effects, negative effects. and strategies used to teach about patriotism.

The survey was administered to all forty-four high school American history teachers in Knox County. Thirty-four surveys were returned for a 77.3 percent return rate.

Data from the survey were tabulated for frequency and percentage and reported in narrative and table form. The findings and conclusions of the study were derived from an analysis the data.

Findings of the study:

  1. Respondents encouraged students to stand during the national anthem but did not encourage students to recite the pledge of allegiance.
  2. The beliefs and teaching practices of respondents showed a strong preference for teaching the truth in issues related to patriotism.
  3. Respondents were not always consistent in their response to statements contained in the survey.
  4. Participants used a variety of strategies for teaching about issues that involved patriotism.
  5. Most respondents did not believe they were provided adequate direction for teaching issues that pertained to patriotism and indicated they would be receptive to additional instruction concerning the concept.
  6. Respondents supported and/or used several approaches for teaching patriotism that reflected traditional thinking and practices.
  7. Respondents supported and/or used several approaches for teaching about patriotism that reflected non-traditional thinking and practices.
  8. Most participants believed that teaching issues related to patriotism should involve a student-centered approach rather than methods that embraced indoctrination of students.
  9. Most participants believed teaching issues that pertained to patriotism was an important function of the American history classroom.
  10. Participants identified several potential positive and negative factors inherent with teaching patriotic issues.
  11. Respondents were generally receptive to teaching issues that involved patriotism.
  12. Participants were unsettled in thought and practice concerning the part indoctrination should play in studies involving patriotism.

Conclusions of the study:

  1. American history teachers supported teaching issues involving patriotism.
  2. American history teachers felt it important that historical truth be critically examined.
  3. American history teachers employed a variety of teaching approaches for teaching their subject matter.
  4. American history teachers employed a philosophical mix of approaches for teaching patriotic issues.
  5. American history teachers were aware of the negative and positive factors inherent with teaching about patriotism.
  6. American history teachers were clearly undecided regarding the role indoctrination should play in the study of patriotic issues.

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