Two purposes guided this study: to examine high school administrators' uses, if any, of the Pennsylvania communication credential in teacher employment and to examine the attitudes and employment experiences of communication-credentialed teachers in order to discover what differences their new credential made in their teaching assignments. During…

Three hundred and seventy-five Pennsylvania secondary public school business education teachers assessed the following five components needed for permanent certification in Pennsylvania as they related to their classroom duties and responsibilities: Baccalaureate degree, approved program of study, degree-granting institution recommendations,…

An attempt to secure information regarding the undergraduate composition training of secondary school English teachers presently teaching in selected Pennsylvania English departments was made in this study. To collect data on the undergraduate composition training of Pennsylvania English teachers, the researcher mailed 1,005 questionnaires to 80…

A study of the status of alternative education (AE) in Pennsylvania surveyed 220 administrators and 234 teachers and counselors in AE settings. Results indicate that discipline programming was common to most programs, probably because Pennsylvania's AE legislation specifically states that AE programs are "designed to modify disruptive…

This curriculum guide was developed to provide a model plan to help public high schools and area vocational-technical schools to initiate, or evaluate and improve, natural resource occupational preparation programs. It offers a curriculum plan which can be modified to meet particular needs and objectives which are career education oriented. This…

Despite the many criticisms that have been made of vocational education teacher preparation, the field has many strengths that can serve as a base on which to build excellent programs. Six examples of excellence are pointed out: (1) important vocational teacher competencies have been identified and verified; (2) high quality performance-based…

A study examined which agricultural mechanics skills were being taught by vocational horticulture teachers in Pennsylvania and compared the degree of proficiency possessed by teachers for particular competencies with the indicated relative importance of these competencies as perceived by employers in the horticulture industry. Also examined were…

To give those business and vocational educators involved in curriculum development a better understanding of data processing personnel requirements, a study was initiated to determine the status of data processing equipment and personnel in selected Pennsylvania businesses. Following a literature review, a questionnaire was developed, revised, and…

The preparation and qualifications of Pennsylvania vocational education (VE) teachers were examined in a statewide survey. Survey instruments were mailed to all 152 practicing VE teachers in Pennsylvania who had received a Pennsylvania Vocational Instructional II Certificate in 1990-1998. Thirty-four (22.37%) of the VE teachers completed…

In the middle western area of Pennsylvania, four model programs have been developed at the high school level to provide occupational orientation and preparation for the educable mentally retarded: The Community Based Work-Study Program, The Academic Special Education Program, The External Vocational Program, and The Internal Vocational Program.…

To help secondary school business teachers and school counselors in Pennsylvania assist students in making career choices and securing a job, this guide provides information on job counseling and developing business education programs. The first chapter focuses on the changing employment climate and outlines activities that will increase…

The "Career Approach to Natural Resource Management in Wildlife and Recreation" program has completed its second year at Conrad Weiser High School in Robesonia, Pennsylvania. It is a vocational natural resources course designed to prepare workers in wildlife and recreation management, with strong emphasis on field study and/or…

A research project examined adequacy and appropriateness of traditional means of teacher preparation for health occupations programs and made recommendations for change. Its specific task was to survey (via questionnaires) all personnel involved in health occupations programs at the secondary, postsecondary, and adult levels in various educational…

Twelve major papers delivered during this conference on agricultural education in the Northeastern states are included in this volume: (1) "Status of Pennsylvania Special Needs Students in Vocational Agriculture: Phase IV--Job Performance Follow-Up," by Dennis C. Scanlon and Connie D. Baggett; (2) "Education, Age and Experience:…

Research examining the impact of arts education on workforce preparation has confirmed that programs incorporating the arts can be educational, developmentally rich, and cost-effective ways of providing students with the skills needed for productive participation in today's economy. Arts education has been shown to help students develop basic,…