Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Klingner, C.E.

English

Research Papers in Economics

EXTENSION  ALTERNATIVES  IN  DEALING
WITH  EDUCATIONAL  POLICY  ISSUES
C. E. Klingner, Extension Economist
University of Missouri
In our discussion so far we have attempted to relate the importance
of education  to  economic  growth,  particularly  in providing  maximum
opportunities  for  our  labor  force  to  adjust  continuously  to  changing
needs  and  conditions  brought  about  by growth.  We  have  emphasized
the  importance  of  education  in  helping  to  bring  about  the  desired
adjustments  in  agriculture,  and  possibly  the  most  important  is  our
concern  in  providing  rural  youth  with  the  maximum  opportunity  for
employment.
We  have  attempted  to outline  some  of the  alternative  policies for
providing  education to meet current needs  with particular  emphasis on
our  organization  and  financing  of public  schools,  grades  one  through
twelve.
Now we would like to briefly explore our role as extension workers
and particularly some of the alternatives we can or have used in dealing
with these educational problems.  The program committee  has included
the  subject on the  agenda,  thus  indicating  that it is  an area  of concern
to  public  affairs  workers.  Therefore,  the  question  is  not  so  much
whether we do it but how we do it.
Our  alternatives  include  the  one  extreme  of  doing  nothing.  The
other  extreme  is  assuming  direct  leadership  in  the  reorganization  or
redirection and expansion of our educational system. A third alternative
is engaging  in various degrees of activities between these two extremes.
Naturally,  what  is done  and how  it is  done will vary  from  state to
state.  A  number of factors  will influence  these decisions,  including the
following:
1. The  adequacy  of the  present  educational program  in  the  state and
communities.
2.  The attitude  of local people and local and state school officials with
regard to the problem of education.
3.  The  working  relationship  between  extension  workers  and  those  in
the  school system,  including the  departments  of education.
4.  Extension  resources  available  for  work  in  this  field-the  interest,
training,  or competence  of personnel to work in this area.
1055.  The  priority given  this  particular  work by  extension  administration
based  on valuation  of the total needs  and resources available.
The  job does  not have  to  be done  in any  one  way.  Here  are  a few
suggestions:
1.  Use  discussion  material,  such  as  those  in  the  self-administered  dis-
cussion program  at Cornell.
2.  Include  career  guidance  as  a  part  of  our  4-H  and  other  youth
programs.
3.  Cooperate  with  our  high  schools  and colleges  in  providing  career
guidance  or career exploration  activities.
4.  Cooperate with departments of education in workshops, community
and county forums,  or other similar means of involving  local leader-
ship  and  appraising  the  needs,  resources  available,  alternatives,
opportunities  for providing  maximum  educational  opportunities  for
the youth,  and  the necessary  action  to implement  the desired  alter-
natives.
5.  Arrange  for  public  examination  and  discussion  of  the  structural
imbalance  and  quality  of  offerings  of school  districts  through  the
Rural Areas  Development program.
6.  Cooperate  with  other  groups  and  agencies  interested  in  programs
of this  nature.
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EXTENSION ALTERNATIVES IN DEALING WITH EDUCATIONAL POLICY ISSUES

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Research Papers in Economics