Korean society is rapidly changing due to the climate crisis and the era of multiculturalism, and sustainable development education and cultural diversity education are urgently needed to address these challenges. Against this backdrop, the value of v...
Korean society is rapidly changing due to the climate crisis and the era of multiculturalism, and sustainable development education and cultural diversity education are urgently needed to address these challenges. Against this backdrop, the value of vegetarian education is gaining traction. To assess whether vegetarianism is adequately addressed in home economics education, this study developed a content assessment tool for middle school home economics vegetarian education. This tool was applied to textbooks from five countries and evaluated, analyzing the content structure and teaching/learning systems of vegetarian education within these textbooks. To develop the tool, a preliminary set of assessment questions was developed based on a literature review. The preliminary assessment items were then revised and supplemented through expert content validation and feedback, and inter-analyst agreement was verified. The final assessment tool was developed. To apply the tool, five countries (Korea, Finland, Sweden, the United States, and Australia) were selected for analysis, and 11 textbooks (seven from Korea and one each from Finland, Sweden, the United States, and Australia) were collected from each country. Through a preliminary review, only one textbook among seven Korean textbooks was selected as suitable for comparing vegetarian education content. A total of five textbooks from five countries (Korea, Finland, Sweden, the United States, and Australia) were ultimately selected for analysis. Data analysis included evaluating vegetarian education content using a developed assessment tool and analyzing the composition of vegetarian education content and teaching and learning systems using content analysis. The developed assessment tool comprised four criteria (appropriateness of level, accuracy, neutrality, novelty, and motivation) and ten items. Each item was evaluated on a three-level rating scale of excellent (10 points), average (5 points), and poor (0 points), for a total score of 100 points. When the assessment tool was applied to evaluate vegetarian education content in middle school home economics textbooks from the five countries, Australia received the highest score of 100 points, followed by the United States with 70 points, Sweden with 60 points, Korea with 60 points, and Finland with 45 points. Specifically, all five countries received full marks for accuracy (item 5) and exclusion of bias (item 7), confirming that there were no errors or biases regarding vegetarianism. On the other hand, with the exception of Australia, the countries with a clear source of information (item 6) did not provide specific data on vegetarianism, which resulted in differences in scores. Furthermore, in arousing interest and stimulating curiosity (item 9) and stimulating the will to practice (item 10), Australia received 10 points for presenting interesting cases and engaging in practical and diverse activities. On the other hand, Korea received 5 points for item 9 due to its controversial topic of “debate for and against vegetarianism,” but only 0 points for item 10 due to the lack of activities and guidance to stimulate the will to practice. Analysis of the composition of vegetarian education content and teaching/learning systems in textbooks revealed that Sweden and Finland placed vegetarian education content within the main text of the textbook in terms of content organization, while Australia presented it in an independent section, whereas Korea placed it as a “discussion” topic as a supplementary and in-depth element at the end of the unit. In terms of teaching and learning activities, the United States included vegetarian interviews and cost-calculation activities, while Australia presented a variety of activities related to real-life situations, such as vegetarian cooking practice, case studies of alternative meats, and analysis of food design requirements including vegetarian options. In contrast, Finland and Sweden did not have any teaching and learning activities, while Korea included discussions on the pros and cons of vegetarianism. Regarding learning assessment, Korea and Sweden lacked independent, structured assessments, while Finland used descriptive assessments that assessed nutritional knowledge. The United States and Australia presented assessments linked to various teaching and learning activities. In particular, Australia aimed to assess comprehensive thinking skills through essay-type questions linking vegetarianism to health, the environment, and food security. In conclusion, when the developed assessment tool was used to evaluate the content of vegetarian education in middle school home economics textbooks in five countries, scores ranged from a high of 100 points (Australia) to a low of 45 points (Finland). These differences occurred in the presentation of vegetarian-related materials and in the areas of novelty and motivation. Furthermore, a content analysis analysis of the composition of vegetarian education content and teaching/learning systems in textbooks revealed that vegetarian education content was divided into whether it was embedded in the main text or included in supplementary explanatory materials or supplementary/advanced activities. In terms of teaching/learning activities and assessment, American and Australian textbooks included a variety of activities and assessments. These differences stem from differences in the distribution of dietary education within textbooks, differences in textbook description styles across countries, and the socio-cultural backgrounds of multi-ethnic countries like Australia and the United States. Based on the analysis results of this study, examples of vegetarian education in foreign textbooks should be reviewed to qualitatively improve the content of vegetarian education in Korean home economics textbooks. Through this, it is hoped that more systematic and practice-oriented vegetarian education will be realized in schools.