DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

THE JUNIOR COLLEGE HAS EMERGED AS THE APPROPRIATE TRAINING AGENCY FOR STUDENTS ENTERING MIDDLE MANPOWER JOBS REQUIRING A BALANCE OF COGNITIVE AND MANUAL ABILITY. THESE ARE THE STUDENTS WITH MIDDLE LEVEL ABILITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FOR WHOM HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION IS NOT ENOUGH AND A 4-YEAR DEGREE NOT NECESSARY. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN TRAINING THEM FOR SUCH OCCUPATIONS ARE THE STUDENTS' LACK OF SENSE OF STATUS, THE UNCERTAIN PLACE OF SUCH JOBS IN A CORPORATE ORGANIZATION CHART, LACK OF SOUND COUNSELING, CONTINUING HIGH SCHOOL EMPHASIS ON COLLEGE PREPARATION, AND A SHORTAGE OF TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL. IMMEDIATE RESEARCH IS NEEDED ON (1) THE REAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS OF INDUSTRY, (2) THE APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM, (3) TRAINING PROGRAMS IN INDUSTRY, (4) STATUS AND PROPER USE OF TECHNICIANS, (5) THE SUITABILITY OF VARIOUS INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA, (6) THE VALUE OF GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES, (7) OPEN-ENDED CURRICULA FOR JOB ENTRY OR TRANSFER, (8) PREPARATION OF COMPETENT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF, (9) A POSSIBLE FIRST-YEAR CORE CURRICULUM FOR TECHNICIANS, (10) REGIONAL PRETECHNICAL PROGRAMS IN HIGH SCHOOLS, (11) WAYS TO UPGRADE THE TECHNICIAN'S STATUS, (12) THE ECONOMIC VALUES OF THE TECHNICAL PROGRAM, (13) THE USE OF DATA FROM FOLLOWUP STUDIES, (14) EFFECTS OF AUTOMATION ON JOB REQUIREMENTS, AND (15) A NEW OCCUPATIONAL CLASSIFICATION SCHEME WITH A MORE PRECISE DEFINITION OF THE TECHNICIAN. (HH)