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To evaluate the preparation of post-high school agricultural graduates in Illinois, a four-phase study was conducted to: (1) determine the background, interest and abilities of the students, (2) determine student competencies and attitudes at the end of the first year of on-the-job training, (3) determine opinions of graduates and employers 6 months after graduation, and (4) follow-up students who left the program before completion. Programs offered were in areas of agricultural supply, agricultural mechanics, ornamental horticulture, and agricultural production. Major conclusions were: (1) Students graduating in the lower half of their high school class could succeed, (2) Parents, vocational agriculture teachers and guidance counselors influenced students to enter, (3) Student employees were rated high in integrity, dependability, responsibility, cooperation, courtesy, personal appearance and emotional stability, and were rated average in initiative, judgment, and leadership, (4) Employers indicated 92 percent of the students would be acceptable as permanent employees, and (5) Students of very high or very low academic ability tended to drop out of the program. (DM)

INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH THE MANAGERS OF 58 GREENHOUSES WHICH COVERED ONE ACRE OR MORE IN THE CHICAGO, CLEVELAND, AND DETROIT AREAS (1) TO DETERMINE THE NATURE OF TRAINING DESIRED FOR THE COMMERCIAL GREENHOUSE GROWER IN TERMS OF THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES OF ORNAMENTAL FLOWERING PLANTS PRODUCED, AND THE DEGREE OF ATTAINMENT OF COMPETENCIES NEEDED, AND (2) TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION USEFUL IN THE GUIDANCE AND TRAINING OF SUCH WORKERS. UNDER THE BASIC AREAS OF PLANT KNOWLEDGE, THE CATEGORIES OF PLANT PARTS, GROWTH PROCESSES, AND PLANT NAMES WERE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL BY TWO-THIRDS OF THE MANAGERS. FIFTY-FOUR PERCENT OF THE GREENHOUSE MANAGERS INDICATED THAT THE FOLLOWING 15 COMPETENCIES, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, WERE ESSENTIAL FOR THE GREENHOUSE GROWER--WATERING, CONTROLLING PESTS, FERTILIZING, MIXING SOILS, POTTING, TRANSPLANTING, HANDLING CHEMICALS, CLEANING, PROPAGATING, STERILIZING SOIL, IDENTIFYING GROWTH CONTAINERS, APPLYING GROWTH SUBSTANCES, OPERATING BOILER, OPERATING EQUIPMENT, AND TESTING SOIL. THREE-FOURTHS OF THE GREENHOUSE MANAGERS REPORTED THE FOLLOWING 10 AREAS OF TRAINING UNDER CROP UNDERSTANDING, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, AS ESSENTIAL--TEMPERATURE, WATER REQUIREMENTS, PINCHING, DISBUDDING, CUTTING, SPECIAL CULTURAL PRACTICES, HUMIDITY, LIFE CYCLE OF PLANT, GRADING AND PACKAGING, AND PHOTO PERIOD. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION AND TRAINING BE PROVIDED FOR THE PROSPECTIVE GREENHOUSE GROWERS THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS OF EDUCATORS AND EMPLOYERS ACCORDING TO THE FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY. THIS ED.D. THESIS, WHICH WAS SUBMITTED TO MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, IS AVAILABLE AS 66-14,162 FOR $3.00 ON MICROFILM AND FOR $6.40 AS XEROXED COPY FROM UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS, INC., 300 NORTH ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48106. (WB)