Education for leisure in Puerto Rico: A study of the opinions of selected groups of educators, public agency directors, politicians, and community leaders in Puerto Rico by Ponce Rivera, Omar Antonio, Ph.D., New York University, 1993, 260 pages; AAT 9333932
Abstract (Summary)
This study documented the opinions of a selected group of 56 participants about leisure education in Puerto Rico. The participants were college educators, politicians, and directors or others in public agencies and private organizations dealing with recreation and education. Intensive interviewing was the data collection method.
The study explored participants' views and opinions about recreation and its status in Puerto Rico; issues related to the development of recreation by the government; and participants' opinions about how children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly invest their free time. Tables were constructed listing the recreational activities by each sector of the population. Sociocultural factors affecting recreation were documented as well as participants' suggestions on how to advance recreation in Puerto Rico.
Leisure education was seen primarily as an attempt to enable participation in recreation. Participants believed it could improve peoples' health, improve their quality of life, reduce social problems, help people to develop themselves, and improve the economy by increasing local tourism.
The participants stated that leisure education could be implemented in the schools, the Department of Recreation and Sports, the media, community organizations, universities, homes, and churches. It could be conducted by recreation specialists, physical educators, general educators, social scientists, and community leaders.
The participants perceived seven possible obstacles in the way of leisure education: negative attitudes, lack of funds, lack of qualified people, political idiosyncrasies, the emphasis in education on preparation for work, the lack of material, and the interagency program approach. They also perceived five facilitators for leisure education: its benefits for the individual and society, the expansion of the recreational services in Puerto Rico, the disposition of children and parents toward it, the increasing concern for environmental protection, and Puerto Ricans' inclination for recreation.
Finally, the participants' opinions about the future of leisure education were explored. The findings were as follows: 50% of the participants were optimistic about the future of leisure education in Puerto Rico, 34% were uncertain about the future of leisure education, 9% were pessimistic about its future, and 7% had no opinion.
Indexing (document details)
Advisor: Berryman, Doris L.
School: New York University
School Location: United States -- New York
Source: DAI-A 54/07, p. 2508, Jan 1994
Source type: Dissertation
Subjects: Physical education, Recreation
Publication Number: AAT 9333932
Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=744469291&sid=11&Fmt=2&cl
ientId=45091&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Databases selected: Dissertations & Theses
ProQuest document ID: 744469291Copyright © 2011 ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved.