Home economics teachers' knowledge and attitudes toward the integration of special needs students in the classroom

The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes of secondary home economics teachers in North Carolina toward the integration of special needs students in home economics programs. Teachers selected for the study were home economics teachers who attended the 1984 Vocational Summer Workshop. Subjects included home economics teachers from each of the eight educational regions of the public schools in North Carolina. Questionnaires were distributed to and collected from home economics teachers at the conference site. Data for the study were obtained from 279 teachers. There was a significant difference in teachers knowledge when compared by race. Caucasian teachers appeared to be the most knowledgeable concerning special needs students. There was a significant difference in teachers attitudes when compared by race. Black teachers had a more positive attitude toward special needs students than did teachers of other races