A Study of Attitudes Toward Career Education of Key Administrative-Supervisory Personnel in the State of Maryland. Occupational Paper in Research.

Overview & Synopsis

An investigation of the attitudes of three groups of key administrative-supervisory personnel in the 24 local education agencies of the State of Maryland, the study focused on 108 individuals from central office personnel, 69 principals from area vocational high schools, and 111 principals of comprehensive high schools to determine their perceptions toward the career education concept. It investigated views toward the importance and need of career education, grade span and content of career education, implementation of career education, vocational education philosophy, and vocational education expansion. A Likert-type career education scale was selected for gathering data. No significant differences were revealed among the attitudes of the three groups concerning the purposes, content, progression, and need for career education; involvement of all students in career education; philosophy and expansion of vocational education; and the idea that career education will provide a unified school. Significant differences were found among the attitudes of school superintendents, directors of career education, directors of guidance and counseling, directors of instruction, and directors of vocational education toward item 2, "Public schools have not helped in giving sufficient orientation about occupational choices to students." A copy of the Career Attitude Scale-Survey Instrument is included. (EA)