An Examination of Texas Agriculture Teacher Safety Attitudes Based on a Personal Belief Scale from Common Safety and Health Practices

Abstract

Agricultural education programs offer many unique hands-on opportunities to develop both
valuable academic and vocational skills for its students. A variety of laboratories provide
opportunities for students to actively and experientially engage in scientific inquiry and
agricultural applications. In the course of skill development, evidence has suggested students will
be more safety conscious if teachers also follow proper safety practices, demonstrate accurate
safety knowledge, provide a safe laboratory environment, convey a positive safety attitude, and
relay safety expectations to students (Harper, 1984). Positive safety attitudes, beliefs and
practices of agricultural science teachers are crucial for insuring students’ educational
opportunities are not hampered. This unique study assessed general safety and health perceptions,
beliefs, and practices of teachers in Texas agricultural education by means of a Personal Belief
Safety Scale (PBSS) score based on common safety and health practices used in agricultural
settings.
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Data was collected from 302, self-selected Texas agriculture teachers, or approximately 20% of
all Texas' agriculture teachers in 1999. Results indicated these self-selected Texas agriculture
teachers displayed positive agreements toward common measures that exhibit safety
consciousness. It was also found that age and years of teaching experience might effect a
teacher’s belief or attitude towards agricultural education program safety consciousness. First
year teachers and teachers with limited experience appeared more approachable to safety concerns
in their programs with female teachers exhibiting a higher conviction towards common safety
practices than their male counterparts. Although it was also found that mean PBSS scores by
Texas FFA area were significantly different (F=2.13), neither size of school nor the number or
students in the agricultural education program had an effect upon teachers’ PBSS scores.