A Survey to Select Area Headings to be Included in a Handbook for School Administrators to Administer Departments of Vocational Agriculture in South Dakota

Abstract

In this study the writer is attempting to find a few of the problems that confront the teacher of agriculture and the superintendent. It is believed that the constant moving and shifting of vocational agricultural instructors from our smaller high schools can be somewhat relieved through a study of this particular type. In a study by Clarke, a former vocational agricultural in South Dakota, it appears that, although salary was the primary problem, there were also other problems that caused vocational agricultural instructors to leave the profession. One of these problems was the lack of cooperation on the part of the administration. Most of the problems that arise stem from misunderstandings. Therefore, an attempt at eliminating these misunderstandings should be made. This study was prompted by the fact that the writer’s first two years of teaching experience were under a superintendent who for the first time experienced having a vocational agricultural department in his school system. It was further prompted by other agricultural instructors who expressed their feelings about working in systems where misunderstandings existed. The writer immediately asked, “Why can’t we clear up these unfortunate misunderstandings? Why can’t we show the vocational agricultural instructor the superintendent’s problems, and the superintendent how the vocational agricultural instructor operates?” However, the main purpose of this paper is an introduction to a handbook to be written at some later date when sufficient material has become accumulated and other studies have been initiated that will make it feasible