Status of nutrition education in elementary schools: 1981 vs. 1975

Abstract

To determine the status of nutrition education in New York State and northern New Jersey elementary schools and to compare the status of nutrition education in those schools in 1975 and 1981, we mailed a questionnaire to a 2% sample (1,804) of full-time, public school K-6 teachers in New York State and northern New Jersey. Of the 1,217 (67.5%) teachers who returned the questionnaire, 68% reported teaching foods and nutrition during the 1980–81 school year. The teachers in the 1981 sample taught foods and nutrition an average of 11.1 hours compared to 9.7 hours for the 1975 sample. Between 1975 and 1981, the proportion of teachers teaching foods and nutrition did not change but the percentage of teachers reporting participation in an in-service workshop increased dramatically, from 3.3% in 1974–75 to 23% in 1980–81. Results of this study suggest reasons why there have not been dramatic increases in the amount of foods and nutrition education in elementary schools.