Survey of secondary industrial arts classes in Kansas with emphasis on fiscal policies

Abstract

Scope of Study: This study is a survey of 226 secondary Industrial Arts departments in Kansas. It shows the varied fiscal policies being practiced, kinds of lumber and finishes being used and the subjects related and unrelated to industrial arts but being taught by industrial arts teachers. Data were taken from the records of the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the 226 Industrial Arts teachers which answered the questionnaire.

Findings and Conclusions: From the study of 226 of the 309 Industrial Arts teachers which answered the questionnaire, the following information was gathered: There were 10,305 students enrolled in Industrial Arts classes for the year 1955-56. The range of enrollment is from 4 to 220. Shop fees were charged by 31.4 per cent of the schools investigated. Waste lumber charges were tabulated by sixteen different methods. The most popular method was to add 10 per cent to the total price the project. Shellac and varnish were the two most popular finishing materials being used. Finishing costs were estimated in a majority of the cases investigated. Freight charges were added to the price of the material in 80.8 per cent of the cases surveyed. Charges for waste in plywood was compensated for by increasing the price from 10 to 20 per cent. Small items such as glue, screws, dowels, and sandpaper were allotted to 30.5 per cent of the schools surveyed for new machinery and tools each year. Permission from the principal for orders over $10.00 is required for 28 per cent of the teachers answering the questionnaire blank. Physical education is the most popular subject taught in conjunction with Industrial Arts teachers.