Date of Award

1983

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Graduate School

First Advisor

Judith Van Hoorn

First Committee Member

Fred Muskal

Second Committee Member

Robert R. Hopkins

Abstract

This research proposes to identify the range of knowledge and attitudes among kindergarten teachers toward childrens' sexual behaviors.

The following behaviors are addressed:

1. Masturbation

2. Heterosexual play

3. Homosexual play

4. Questions related to sexuality.

Specifically, the study is developed through the examination of the following eight sub-problems: (1) The first sub-problem is to determine the frequency with which teachers observe these specified behaviors; (2) the second sub-problem is to determine if teachers consider these specified behaviors to be normal expressions of child development, non-normal expressions of child developments, or if they don't know how to consider them; (3) the third sub-problem is to determine if teachers consider these specified behaviors to be sexual, non-sexual, or if they don't know how to consider them; (4) the fourth sub-problem is to determine whether teachers respond to these specified behaviors by suppressing them, ignoring them, or discussing them with the class; (5) the fifth sub-problem is to determine if years of experience in teaching at a kindergarten level is related to the frequency with which teachers observe these specified behaviors; (6) the sixth sub-problem is to determine if years of experience in teaching at a kindergarten level is related to whether teachers consider these specified behaviors as sexual, nonsexual, or to their not knowing how to consider them; and finally, (8) the eighth sub-problem is to determine if years of experience in teaching at a kindergarten level is related to whether teachers' response to these specified behaviors is suppressing them, ignoring them, or discussing them with the class.

The present study is limited to kindergarten teachers only, as well as to four districts within the San Joaquin Valley area: Lodi Unified School District, Stockton Unified School District; Lincoln Unified School District; and the Manteca Unified School District. The study is also limited in representativeness, since participation was voluntary. Results will not include generalizations; only the data is described.

Pages

60

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