New Pioneers. The North Carolina Program to Eliminate Sex Bias in Occupational Education. Reflections and Recommendations.

Overview & Synopsis

Designed to eliminate sex bias in occupational education, a strategic model for change in the educational system and an inservice program to implement the model were developed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Over 1700 teachers, representing 74 of North Carolina's 148 local education agencies, participated in the inservice training which prepared them to be trainers in their own school systems. An eight-point philosophical approach guided the activities of the project. A variety of print and media products were developed for inservice instructional needs and resources for the teachers. The results indicated that it is possible for two people, with a modest budget and with strong administrative backing, to use the leverage of the state education agency to effect institutional change. After one year's effort, the following changes in enrollment were evidenced: nearly 1,000 more girls in agriculture; 1,300 more boys in home economics; 700 more girls in trade and industrial education, and substantial increases in industrial arts and occupational awareness. In the second year, female enrollment in agriculture rose to over 1,700 and male enrollment in home economics to over 2,100. There were no significant changes in health occupations, education, business and office education, or distributive education. (Focus throughout the report is on why various approaches did or did not work.) (BM)