Abstract
This study investigated the effects of factors on the academic achievement in the 'Food and Nutrition' units in the Practical Arts : factors such as gender. family and home environment. and participation in. interest in attitude toward. and encouragement by mother in meal management. The factors were surveyed for 453 grade four elementary students (226 boys and 227 girls) and their mothers in Busan. The extent of participation in meal management. of interest. of attitude. and of the mother's encouragement was broken into three groups. Upon completing the 'Table Setting with Fruits'unit. the students'academic achievements were evaluated and compared according to these factors. The results were as follows : 1. The girls participated in meal management more frequently than the boys. Most of the children exhibited a high interest. the girls showing a higher interest than the boys. Both sexes showed a positive attitude toward meal management. Mothers encouraged girls more often than boys to manage meals at home. 2. The academic achievement of the girls was higher than that of the boys. Children living in apartments and more affluent environments scored higher than those who were less well off and living in independent households. 3. Those who frequently participated in meal management. exhibited a high interest. and showed a positive attitude towards it. achieved higher scores than those who showed a lower interest. less positive attitude. and only occasionally participated in it. 4. Those who were encouraged frequently to manage meals by their mother showed a tendency to score higher than those who wee encouraged only occasionally. In conclusion. academic achievement in the 'Food and Nutrition'units in Practical Arts was affected by gender. domestic economy. type of residence. participation in meal management in the home. interest in it. attitude toward it. and encouragement in participation by the other. Thus academic achievement in food. nutrition. and meal management is dependent upon both the school and home environments. Children would learn more in the 'Food and Nutrition'units when their parents set a positive and encouraging environment in the home.
