Vocational Teacher Education: The Context for Reform.

Overview & Synopsis

The numbers of vocational education teachers, the number of institutions that provide training for vocational education teachers, and the number of schools that offer vocational education have been declining for the past 10 years or longer; at the same time, the average age of vocational education teachers has risen. As the teacher ranks and the programs to prepare them are shrinking, there are countertrends toward having vocational education teachers integrate basic skills lessons into their classrooms, and toward more technology education or tech prep programs. Among other issues that could affect not only vocational education but all teacher education programs is that with continued military downsizing, a number of highly trained ex-military personnel will be entering the workforce many of whom will look for careers in teaching. This is only one of many factors that suggest that vocational teacher education programs will have to change in order to attract more faculty and more aspiring teachers as well as more money for program improvement. Other important issues in vocational teacher preparation are the need to recruit minorities and the ability to address the special needs population. These and similar issues will continue to have an impact on universities and colleges that prepare vocational education teachers. (Contains 12 references.) (KC)