ADAPTING THE FFA TO A CHANGING PROGRAM OF VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE. RESEARCH SERIES IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

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Activities; Agricultural Education; Educational Change; Guidelines; Objectives; Organizational Change; Program Evaluation; Program Proposals; Vocational Education; Youth Clubs; Youth Programs

THE PURPOSE OF THIS NATIONAL STUDY WAS TO SUGGEST WAYS OF ADAPTING THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA (FFA) TO A CHANGING PROGRAM OF VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE THROUGH IDENTIFYING NEW PURPOSES OF THE FFA AND EVALUATING SELECTED OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES AND NATIONAL AND STATE FFA ACTIVITIES. MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF EDUCATION, HEAD STATE SUPERVISORS OF VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE, HEAD TEACHER EDUCATORS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES OF STATE FFA ASSOCIATIONS, STATE PRESIDENTS OF VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS, AND SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WERE INVOLVED IN THE STUDY. NEW PURPOSES WERE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE FOR BROADENING THE SCOPE OF THE ORGANIZATION TO INCLUDE ACTIVITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE CLASSES. SOME CONCLUSIONS WERE--(1) THERE SHOULD BE ONLY ONE ORGANIZATION FOR VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE STUDENTS, (2) THE SCOPE OF THE FFA SHOULD BE BROADENED BY ADDING ACTIVITIES APPROPRIATE FOR STUDENTS ENGAGED IN OFF-FARM INSTRUCTION, (3) THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED AT THE TIME BUT A CHANGING PROGRAM SUGGESTS CONTINUED STUDY OF THE MATTER, (4) GIRLS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR MEMBERSHIP, (5) THE TERM "FARMING" SHOULD BE BROADENED BY THE USE OF THE TERM AGRICULTURE, (6) LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES AND PUBLIC SPEAKING SHOULD BE CONTINUED AT ALL LEVELS, AND (7) GENERAL LIVESTOCK AND DAIRY CATTLE JUDGING SHOULD BE RETAINED BUT CONTINUED JUDGING OF MEAT, POULTRY, EGGS, AND DAIRY PRODUCTS IS QUESTIONABLE. THIS IS A DIGEST OF A PH.D. THESIS, WHICH WAS SUBMITTED TO THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. IT IS AVAILABLE AS 66-6272 FOR $3.00 ON MICROFILM AND FOR $8.00 AS XEROXED COPY FROM UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS, INC., 300 NORTH ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48106. (WB)

1968

ED020351