Vocational Agricultural Education AGED 3203

Vocational Agricultural Education Vo-Ag enrollment peaked in the mid 70’s Less than 5% of high school students enrolls in Ag. Number of Vo-Ag programs is (was) declining. About 75% of Ag Ed students are members of the FFA.

Vocational Agricultural Education Why the changes in Vo-Ag enrollments?

Vocational Agricultural Education Who enrolls in Vo-Ag? –White –Male –Rural Why few minorities? 85% of Black Farmers live in the South Females accounted for 15% of membership in 1986.

Vocational Agricultural Education Program in 1986 was much like it was in What is your definition of Agriculture?

Vocational Agricultural Education What makes for a high quality program? –Extensive contact between student and teacher –diversity of rewarding SOE (SAE) opportunities. –Attract a cross section of students - leaders and high achievers.

Vocational Agricultural Education What about “poor” programs –Cost as much (per student) as do high quality programs. –Continue to be supported in the community. –System does not encourage innovation

Vocational Agricultural Education How to Improve the Program –Each program should have a local advisory council –Upgrade the scientific content of Vo-Ag. –Courses should receive science “credit” –Vocational label should be avoided. –New curriculum in food science, marketing, international ag, and natural resources. –Cooperation with universities, extension, 4-H

Vocational Agricultural Education SAE - All students should participate SAEs should include time in: –research labs –banks –food retailing –elementary school emphasis should be on the experience not only on an occupation

Vocational Agricultural Education Better cooperation with Agribusiness Special summer SAEs –travel –ag experiment stations –food processing factories –industrial labs

Vocational Agricultural Education Emphasis should be on learning, with an appreciation for earning. Public service SAEs should be encouraged Profit should only occasionally be a principle factor in evaluating SAEs. Schools should provide on-site lab facilities –Land, greenhouse,grounds, ag mech lab

Vocational Agricultural Education 95% of all schools that offer vo-ag have FFA chapters. Quality of FFA chapters varies as much as the quality of of vo-ag programs varies. FFA needs to change its image. Some Vo-Ag Teachers are unduly driven by a desire to help students excel in production oriented contests and award programs.

Vocational Agricultural Education These teachers tend to place less empasis on ag instruction. In some communities the the vo-ag program is refered to as the “FFA program” and the vo-ag teacher as the FFA Teacher. In some programs a great deal of classtime is devoted to preparing students for contests and award programs.

Vocational Agricultural Education Recommendations –FFA should change its name, symbols, rituals, and image. –FFA should revise the nature, focus, and award structure of its contests and awards. –FFA should encourage enrollment by students unwilling or unable to take 4 years of vo-ag.