Date

July 2008

Chair

Steve Deckard

Primary Subject Area

Education, General

Keywords

Biblical Worldview, Worldview Formation, Teaching from a Christian Worlview

Abstract

James A. Fyock. THE EFFECT OF THE TEACHER’S WORLDVIEWS ON THE WORLDVIEWS OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. (Under the direction of Dr. Steve Deckard) School of Education, June, 19, 2008. Christian educators today are interested in assisting their students in formulating a biblical Christian worldview. One important factor in developing a biblical worldview in students is the Christian school teacher. This study examined the effect of teacher’s worldviews on the worldviews of high school seniors in a Christian school. The teacher’s worldview was measured by Nehemiah Institute’s PEERS (2003) worldview survey and was designated the attribute independent variable. A convenience sample of graduating seniors took the PEERS worldview survey in 2006 and 2007. The composite and category mean scores for seniors increased from 2006 to 2007. A t test for independent samples compared the faculty’s mean scores to the senior mean scores for 2006 and 2007. The observed mean difference between faculty and seniors in 2006 and 2007 suggests a relationship exists. Composite and all category mean differences decreased from 2006 to 2007 which seems to suggest the senior’s worldviews moved more toward the faculty’s worldviews. Senior’s composite worldview scores showed increased biblical worldview understanding from 2006 to 2007 and reflected the faculty’s worldviews. The study also found that teaching a course from a biblical Christian worldview by an experienced faculty member increased biblical understanding on a number of worldview issues. Intentionally weaving biblical truth into instructional methodology and curriculum content seems to have a positive effect on the worldview of students. Despite the myriad factors that influence a student’s worldviews, the findings of this study seem to suggest that the worldview of the Christian school teacher has an effect on the worldview of students and is an important factor in formulating a biblical Christian worldview in students.

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