An occupational work ethic inventory was completed by 3,822 union apprentices and 224 instructors (90% response). They reported a relatively high level of work ethic. Length of work experience and apprenticeship level were not significantly correlated with work ethic. Largest difference between instructors and apprentices was in maturity. (SK)

Youth apprenticeships are hampered by failure to recognize transformative potential, address worker empowerment, introduce conflict into the curriculum, acknowledge labor market realities, and eliminate tracking. Apprenticeships have potential to minimize youth floundering, ensure educative work experiences, increase earnings and educational…

Factors in the development of relevance in the industrial arts curriculum are greater student participation in educational planning, teachers assuming active roles in development of centers of interest, greater social interaction, increased community participation, and a curriculum that involves more real-life experiences. (MS)

Of 50 state departments, only 34% require credentialing of two-year college technical instructors; 7 that did in 1990 do not now. Work experience remained important for those without bachelor's degrees. Of 22 technical teacher education programs, 13 offer degrees. Both undergraduate and graduate programs have decreased occupational education…

A rebuttal to Schenck's 1979 study which asserts that occupational competency is not necessarily a function of occupational experience. Hux focuses on three areas: Schenk's sampling method, the inherent threats to both internal and external validity, and possible directions that may be taken to examine the problem. (CT)

The paper discusses and makes recommendations for action on the quality of working life, career education, reform of secondary education, manpower development, and a reappraisal of vocational education philosophy and purpose. A bibliography of literature in each of these five areas is included. (MF)

Pennsylvania has maintained a nontraditional pathway for the certification of secondary-level vocational teachers since the 1920s. The key that opens the door to that pathway is the verification of subject mastery via: (1) documentation of a learning period in the occupation; (2) documentation of related paid work experience beyond the learning…

A study conducted in a State university's Department of Vocational Education discovered that years of work experience had little positive effect on academic performance; also, younger baccalaureate students with less work experience completed programs more quickly than certificate holders, yet did as well on the overall occupational competency…

After reviewing the practice of granting college credit in vocational teacher education programs for trade work experience, the authors discuss the growing trend toward allowing academic credit for nonacademic learning experience. It is noted that a nationally acceptable system of evaluating work experience for college credit will have to be…

The authors examine youth unemployment in a changing economy and suggest that vocational education will play a key role in helping students gain purposeful employment in the future. They discuss various causes of youth unemployment and the impact that technological changes will have on young workers. (CT)

Results of the investigation described in this paper support the hypothesis that there is no significant difference in the occupational competence of trade and industrial teacher education students using three different work experience combinations to meet South Dakota's certification standards for vocational teacher certification in trade and…