Career Education.

Overview & Synopsis

Five factors have influenced the movement in the United States now described as career education. Vocational educators might contend that this is another stage in the developmental history of vocational education, while others say that it is a natural consequence of concomitant advances in education. Another influence was work done by the National Advisory Council on Vocational Education. Career education movements in Europe and the Soviet Union influenced the scene world-wide, and a fifth explanation credits the United States Office of Education and State Education Agencies with strong leadership. Various approaches to career education focus on: (1) the philosophical commitment, (2) the essential components, (3) utilization of an educational delivery system, (4) education levels from the elementary grades through adult education, and (5) a program which is concerned with outcomes. In the school-based model, career education needs to be integrated into the entire school curriculum rather than to be a separate course. Characteristics of schools with exemplary school-based programs, assumptions which mitigate the influence of career education, problems for implementation, and developmental needs are discussed. (GEB)