A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDE OF HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN RELATION TO THEIR GENDER AN

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A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDE OF HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN RELATION TO THEIR GENDER AND INSTITUTION TYPE Dr. Rajinder Singh Asstt. Professor, Department of Education Tezpur University

ABSTRACT This research is an examination of the environmental attitude of higher secondary school teachers in relation to their gender and institution type. In the present investigation a representative sample of 250 teachers in government and private higher secondary schools was drawn from Sonitpur district of Assam. The research showed that there is no significant difference in mean scores of health and hygiene, wild life, forests, polluters and population explosion areas of environmental attitude of male and female senior secondary school teachers. Female and male higher secondary school teachers have almost same overall environmental attitude. There is no significant difference in overall environmental attitude of private and government higher secondary school teachers.

Key Words: environmental attitude, higher secondary school teachers, gender and institution type.

INTRODUCTION

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A deep harmonious relationship exists between man and environment. Human interaction with the environment started from the moment when he appeared on the earth. The early man afraid of lightening, thunder, dense forests and darkness. His activities and interaction with the environment had very little impact on it. Gradually, he started making radical changes to suit his needs. The failures to understand the place and the role of man in the environment, the absence of elementary knowledge of the biosphere among the people in most countries of the world and the booming scientific revolution created serious imbalances.

The modern development of science and technology leads to a wasteful intensification of the exploitation of natural resources. Human being is in constant interaction with several components of environment including the biological, which is concerned with the conditions exist within the body. The interplay between man and his surroundings is a dynamic process in which each is influencing, moulding and interacting with each other. Man draws upon 1|P a g e

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International e-Journal For Education And Research-2017

the environmental resources for all his needs.

Thus it is imperative for him to realize that these resources are the constituents of the system, which support him and it is his prime duty to keep the system in a healthy condition. If man‟s intellect is responsible for the entire programme for mankind, his arrogance and lack of wisdom to live in harmony with nature are responsible for all the harmful effects of nature on the environment.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY Environment has become a global issue.

There is a need to create public opinion worldwide in order to save our environment.

The main objective of environmental education is that individuals and social groups should develop attitude, skill, ability and participation in solving real life environmental threats. To bring awareness about environment among people from different walks of like, it is very essential that this process is started from the early years of life of an individual. In this regards, teachers are the motivator in the school regarding environment, different types of environment problems and their solutions. The teachers, if sufficiently aware of this importance, can teach and train their students towards greater respect for wild life, plant life and also the productive use of natural resources like land and water. The kind of pro-environmental behavior of teachers certainly influences the attitude and behavior of students, so that they can act as true friends of nature and environment.

Environment has become the burning issue for all the academicians, intellectuals, scientists, policy makers and governmental of all over the world.

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In the present research work an attempt has been made to study the attitude of higher secondary school teachers regarding the environment, its various factors and its various aspects. The study will be helpful in making the attitude of higher secondary school teachers positive towards environment which will result in an increased environmental attitude. It also provides suggestions for framing the curriculum with importance to inclusion of environmental education so that environmental attitude level of higher secondary school teachers should be increased.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The statement of the problem is defined as below.

“A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDE OF HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN RELATION TO THEIR GENDER AND INSTITUTION TYPE” OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The study was conducted to achieve the following objectives.

1. To study the nature of distribution of environmental attitude scores of higher secondary school teachers.

2. To study gender-wise difference in environmental attitude of higher secondary school teachers.

3. To study institution-wise difference in the environmental attitude of higher secondary school teachers.

HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY Following hypotheses were formulated in the present study.

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International e-Journal For Education And Research-2017 1. There will be no significant difference in environmental attitude of male and female higher secondary school teachers.

2. There will be no significant difference in environment attitude of private and government higher secondary school teachers.

DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY The present study was delimited in its scope in the following manner.

1. The present study was delimited only to government and private higher secondary school teachers working in district Sonitpur of Assam.

2. The study was delimited to a sample of 250 in-service teachers.

3. The study was delimited in terms of independent and dependent variables.

Independent variables include gender and type of institution. The dependent variable only includes the environmental attitude of higher secondary school teachers.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS USED 1. Environmental attitude: Environmental attitude and awareness would be of no meaning without cultivation of right attitude towards environment, so, attitude is a prerequisite for fostering valuing approach and responsible action which is the ultimate goal of environmental education. In the present study it was measured by „Environmental Attitude Scaleâ€&#x; developed by the Dr. Hassen Taj. 2. Higher Secondary School Teachers : It refer to the in-service teachers teaching in government and private higher secondary school in district Sonitpur of Assam.

3. Gender: It refers to male and female higher secondary school teachers.

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4. Institution Type :Type of institution means such schools which are run by government called government schools and other schools run by public bodies called public schools.

REVIEW OF RESEARCH STUDIES RELATED TO ENVIRONMENT ATTITUDE Many researchers from different countries have investigated the environmental awareness of teachers, along with their environmental attitudes. They include Stir (2006), Hsu and Roth (1998), Esa (2010), Boubonari et al.

(2013), Goldman et al. (2006) and Pe'er et al.

(2007). The majority of these studies found a moderate level of environmental awareness along with positive attitudes among teachers.

Many researchers from India have investigated the environmental awareness of teachers, along with their environmental attitudes. They include Dahyabhai and Patel (2011), Lahiri,(2011), Mangala (2007), Nagra and Dhillon (2006), Nima (2005), Sachin et al. (2011) Sudhir (2013).

The majority of these studies found there is no significant difference between male and female teachers in their attitude towards environmental pollution and related issues.

METHOD AND PROCEDURE Keeping into consideration the objectives of present study, following methodology was adopted.

METHOD There are various methods which can be used for the research purpose, but for completing this study, only descriptive survey method of research was used.

SAMPLING In the present investigation a representative sample of 250 teachers in government and 3|P a g e

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International e-Journal For Education And Research-2017 private higher secondary schools was drawn from Sonitpur district of Assam. For this purpose, the procedure of multistage sampling was adopted. The selection of schools from the

above mentioned district was done on random basis by the researcher. The distribution of teachers is given in table.

Distribution of the Sample School

Male

Female

Total

Government

101

74

185

Private

20

55

65

Total

121

129

250

RESEARCH TOOL USED For measuring the environmental attitude among higher secondary school teachers, Taj Environmental Attitude Scale (TEAS) developed and standardized by Dr. Haseen Taj was used. This scale contains 61 items with four alternative responses out of which the

respondent has to select most suitable alternative according to his/ her own characteristics. Taj Environmental Attitude Scale has 31 favorable and 30 unfavorable items. The total number of favorable and unfavorable items with their serial numbers in the final scale is presented in table

Total Number of Final Scale Items with their Serial Numbers Distributed Over Different Areas Sr. No. 1.

Areas Health and Hygiene

Serial No. of Items in Final Scale 3, 46,52,59,61

Total Items 5

2.

Wild life

2,4,6,9,35

5

3.

Forests

1,8,12,15,16,17,20,21,22,24,25,27,29,30,31,34,40,4 1,42,43,44,45,47,50, 57

26

4.

Polluters

18,19,26,54,56,58

6

5.

Population Explosion

5,33,48,53,55

5

6.

Environment concerns

7,10,11,13,14,23,32,26,37,38,39,49,51,60

14

Total DATA COLLECTION The researcher collected the data personally. The environmental attitude scale was distributed to the teachers. The teachers were imparted necessary instructions regarding filling DL - International Digital Library

No.

of

61 general information about them in the tool.

Teachers were also told that there answers will be kept secret & will not be shown to anyone.

Teachers were asked to put a tick mark in the category which they think to be most appropriate 4|P a g e

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International e-Journal For Education And Research-2017 for each item in the tool the teachers were given enough time to complete the tool.

SCORING PROCEDURE Each item alternative is assigned a weightage ranging from 4 (Strongly Agree) to l (Strongly disagree) for favorable items. In case of unfavorable items the scoring is reversed i.e.

1 (Strongly Agree) to 4 (Strongly disagree). The attitude score of an individual is the sum total of item score on all the six areas. The range of score is from 61 to 244 with thehigher score indicating the more favorable attitude towards environment and vice versa.

STATISTICAL TREATMENT OF DATA The data on environmental attitude of higher secondary school teachers was verified for normality by calculating certain statistics like mean median, mode, standard deviation, quartile deviation, skewness and kurtosis. For testing the significance of difference in the environmental attitude of higher secondary school teachers in relation to their gender and type of institution

the statistical technique of „tâ€&#x;-test was applied.

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA Analysis and interpretation of data means studying the tabulated material in order to determine inherent facts. The data is studied from as many angles as possible to explore the new facts. Analysis and interpretation of the obtained data were made by keeping in mind the objectives of the study. The descriptions of calculation and results obtained have been systematically presented.

NATURE OF DISTRIBUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDE SCORES OF HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS The distribution of environmental attitude scores of higher secondary school teachers along with mean, median mode, standard deviation, quartile deviation, skewness and kurtosis is given in table

Frequency Distribution of Environmental Attitude Scores of Higher Secondary School Teachers (N=250) Class interval 215-219 210-214 205-209 200-204 195-199 190-194 185-189 180-184 175-179 170-174 165-169 160-164 DL - International Digital Library

Frequency 1 2 5 7 16 33 53 54 24 23 9 9

Cumulative frequency 250 249 247 242 235 219 186 133 79 55 32 23 5|P a g e

Commutative frequency (%) 100 99.6 98.8 96.8 94 87.6 74.4 53.2 31.6 22 12.8 9.2 Copyright@IDL-2017

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International e-Journal For Education And Research-2017 155-159 150-154 Total Mean Median 182.46 183.75

7 7 250 Mode 184.33

14 7

5.6 2.8

S.D. 12.00

Q.D. 6.742

Skewness -0.32

Kurtosis 0.219

Table shows that the value of mean, median and 0.32 which shows that the curve is negatively mode of environmental attitude scores of senior skewed. In addition to this the value of kurtosis secondary school teachers as 182.46, 183.75 and was calculated to be 0.219 which is indicating 184.33 respectively, which are quite proximate that the curve is leptokurtic in nature. The to each other. The value of standard deviation skewness and kurtosis in respect of distribution and quartile deviation is 12.00 and 6.742 of environmental attitude scores is respectively. Further, the value of skewness is diagrammatically presented in figure Frequency Distribution Curve of Environmental Attitude Scores of Senior Secondary School Teachers

Frequency

60 54

40 20 0

7

23 7

9

53 33

24

9

16 7

5

2

1

Class Interval

Hence, it may be inferred that the distribution of environmental attitude scores of higher secondary school teachers is nearly normal and thus, parametric tests can be applied on the same.

AREA-WISE ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDE OF

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HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN RELATION TO THEIR GENDER The summary of statistical calculations for finding significance of difference in the mean scores of environmental attitude of higher secondary school teachers is given in table.

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Summary of Statistical Calculations for Finding Gender-wise Significance of Difference in the Mean Scores of Environmental Attitude of Higher Secondary School Teachers Sr. No. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Dimension Health and Hygiene

Wildlife

Forests

Polluters

Population Explosion

Environmental Concerns Overall

Male Group N =121 M = 15.5 SD=2.29 N =121 M = 17.78 SD=2.22 N =121 M = 15.53 SD=1.96 N =121 M = 76.64 SD=6.3 N =121 M = 16.74 SD=1.74 N =121 M = 42.94 SD=3.36 N =121

Female Group N = 129 M = 15.78 SD=1.86 N = 129 M = 17.46 SD=2.34 N = 129 M = 15.43 SD=2.64 N = 129 M = 76.845 SD=6.316 N = 129 M = 16.48 SD= 2.09 N = 129 M = 44.06 SD= 3.3 N = 129

M = 183.3

M = 183.5

SD=11.6

SD= 12.5

** Significant at 0.01 level of significance NS Not Significant at 0.05 level of significance Table (Sr.No.7) depicts that the calculated value of „t‟ for comparing the significance of difference between mean scores of overall environmental attitude of male and female higher secondary school teachers came out to be 0.13, which is not significant at 0.05 level of significance for two tailed test for degree of freedom, df = 248, because, the calculated „t‟value (0.13) is less than the table „t‟ – value (1.97) at 0.05 level of significance. Hence, the Hypothesis No. 2 that, “There will be no significant difference in overall environmental DL - International Digital Library

‘t’- value 1.12NS

1.14NS

0.35 NS

0.25NS

1.90NS

2.73**

0.13NS

attitude of male and female higher secondary school teachers” was accepted.

Therefore, it may be interpreted that there is no significant difference in mean scores of overall environmental attitude of male and female higher secondary school teachers.

Female and male senior secondary school teachers have almost same overall environmental attitude.

ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDE OF HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN RELATION TO THEIR INSTITUTION TYPE 7|P a g e

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International e-Journal For Education And Research-2017 The summary of statistical calculations for secondary school teachers in relation to their finding out the significance of difference in the institution type is given in table mean scores of environmental attitude of higher Summary of Statistical Calculations for finding Institution-wise Significance of Difference in the Mean Scores of Environmental Attitude of Higher Secondary School Teachers Sr. No. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Dimension Health and Hygiene

Wildlife

Forests

Polluters

Population Explosion

Environmental Concerns Overall

Private Group N= 63 M= 16.22 SD=1.5 N= 63 M= 17.44

Govt. Group N= 187 M =15.66 SD = 1.86 N= 187 M =17.88

SD=1.86 N= 63 M= 15.92 SD= 2.32 N= 63 M= 76.95 SD= 5.92 N= 63 M= 16.09 SD= 2.16 N= 63 M= 43.60 SD= 3.01 N= 63

SD = 2.58 N= 187 M = 15.20 SD = 2.28 N= 187 M = 76.72 SD = 6.17 N= 187 M = 16.65 SD = 1.94 N= 187 M = 43.56 SD = 3.36 N= 187

M= 184.5

M = 183.2

SD= 11.4

SD = 11.9

*Significant at 0.05 level of significance NS Not Significant at 0.05 level of significance Table (Sr. No.7) depicts that the calculated value of „t‟ for comparing the difference between the mean scores of overall environmental attitude of private and government higher secondary school teachers came out to be 0.77 which is not significant at 0.05 level of significance for two tailed test for degree of freedom df = 248, because the calculated „t‟- value (0.77) is less than the table „t‟-value (1.97) at 0.05 level of significance. Hence, the Hypothesis No. 3 that, DL - International Digital Library

‘t’- value 2.54*

1.57NS

0.78NS

0.38NS

1.86NS

0.09NS

0.77NS

“There will be no significant difference in overall environment attitude of private and government higher secondary school teachers” was accepted.

Therefore, it may be interpreted that there is no significant difference in the mean scores of overall environmental attitude of private and government higher secondary school teachers. Private and government higher secondary school teachers possess almost same overall environmental attitude.

CONCLUSIONS 8|P a g e

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International e-Journal For Education And Research-2017 From the analysis and interpretation of the data, following conclusions may be drawn.  There is no significant difference in mean scores of health and hygiene, wild life, forests, polluters and population explosion areas of environmental attitude of male and female higher secondary school teachers.  Female higher secondary school teachers possess significantly higher environmental attitude in environmental concerns area than male higher secondary school teachers.  Female and male senior secondary school teachers have almost same overall environmental attitude.  There is significant difference in mean scores of health and hygiene area of environmental attitude of private and government higher secondary school teachers. Private senior secondary school teachers have significantly high environmental attitude in health and hygiene area than government senior secondary school teachers.  There is no significant difference in the mean scores of wild life, forests, polluters, population explosion and environmental concerns areas of environmental attitude of private and government higher secondary school teachers.  There is no significant difference in overall environmental attitude of private and government higher secondary school teachers.

EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS On the basis of the results of the present study following educational implications may be laid down.  Teachers can play an important role in educating their students about environment which is possible only when the teachers themselves have the necessary level of environmental awareness and environmental attitude, for this purpose, the Government DL - International Digital Library













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should introduce and enrich environmental education programmes in both inservice and pre-service teacher education programmes.

The teacher education & training centers and in-service education programmes should device new methods and techniques of teaching for increasing the level of teachers‟ environmental awareness and environmental attitude.

Various co-curricular activities in schools may be encouraged to help in developing students‟ environmental awareness and environmental attitude.

Environmental education should be introduced in primary and secondary school curricula, in a maximum number of subjects.

Environmental training should be multidisciplinary focusing on interaction between environmental phenomenon and human activity.

The young children have great curiosity about their surroundings. They possess great love for nature and want to understand myths and mysteries of nature. Therefore, at this stage stress should laid on developing an emotional tie with nature. Method of teaching should be used as to cultivate love for nature.

The teacher plays an important role in shaping and moulding the habits, tastes, manners and good character of the children.

Therefore, to gear up environmental awareness and environmental attitude programme, it is essential that teachers should have sufficient knowledge of environmental education.

REFERENCES

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International e-Journal For Education And Research-2017  Boubonari, T., Markos, A., & Kevrekidis, T. (2013). Greek pre-service teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and environmental behavior toward marine pollution. The Journal of Environmental Education, 44(4), 232-251.

10.1080/00958964.2013.785381  Dahyabhai and Patel (2011). The Environmental Behavior of Secondary Students Teachers. The CTE National Journal IX (1).  Goldman, D., Yavetz, B., & Pe'er, S. (2006). Environmental literacy in teacher training in Israel: Environmental behavior of new students. The Journal of Environmental Education, 38(1), 322.  Hsu, S. J., & Roth, R. E. (1998). An assessment of environmental literacy and analysis of predictors of responsible environmental behaviour held by secondary teachers in the Hualien area of Taiwan. Environmental education research, 4(3), 229-249.  Lahiri, Sudeshna (2011). Assessing the Environmental Attitude among Pupil Teacher in Relation to Responsible Environmental Behavior.‟ Journal of social science , 7(1) 33-41.  Mangala, S. (2007). A Study on Influence of Environmental Education on Environmental Attitude of Teachers.

EDUTRACKS, 6 (8), 41-45.

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 Nagra, V. and Dhillon, S. J. (2006).

Environmental Awareness Education among Secondary School Teachers.

Perspective in Education, 21, (3).  Nima, D. (2005). A Study on Awareness of Biodiversity and its Conservation among Higher & Secondary School Teachers. Education Research and Reflection on Education, April-June, 3 (2), 3-8.  Pe'er, S., Goldman, D., & Yavetz, B. (2007). Environmental literacy in teacher training: Attitudes, knowledge, and environmental behavior of beginning students. The Journal of Environmental Education, 39(1), 45-59.  Sachin, krishan kumar, Manjeet kumar (2011) “Environmental Awareness and Ecological Attitude Among University students : A comparative study. Indian Journal of Psychology and Mental Health,5(2), 125-132.  Stir, J. (2006). Restructuring teacher education for sustainability: Student involvement through a “strengths model”. Journal of Cleaner Production, 14(9), 830-836.  Sudhir, M.A. (2013). Participatory Learning and Action for Environmental Education. Indian Educational Review, 51(1),120-123.

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