Study to determine why Oklahoma vocational agriculture instructors changed their professions during the 1968-1970 school years and their new occupations

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: Forms were sent to agriculture teachers who left teaching between the 1968-1970 school years, securing information concerning (1) why teachers left the teaching profession between the 1968-1970 school years, (2) their opinions on various agriculture subjects, and (3) their new occupations. Names and other information were obtained from the Oklahoma State Department of Vocational Agriculture, the Agricultural Education Department at Oklahoma State University, and other agriculture teachers.

Findings and Conclusions: Vocational agriculture teachers left the teaching profession because of (1) limited chance of promotion, (2) excessive and inconsistent hours, (3) insufficient salary, (4) personal conflict with school administration, (5) overloaded with work, (6) too much community and school responsibility. Their new jobs were obtained in (1) agriculture related businesses, (2) teaching and administration in vocational-technical education institutions, (3) farming, (4) high school administration, (5) continuing education.

It is recommended that the 1State Department of Vocational Agriculture and the Oklahoma State University Agricultural Education Department work toward improving vocational agriculture teachers' working conditions and salary in an attempt to hold vocational agriculture teachers in the profession.