Occupational Education in Texas: An Ethnic Comparison.

Evaluation and documentation of the type and quality of occupational training that is available to minority high school students was presented in this study. The school-to-work transition for a tri-ethnic population (black, Anglo, and Mexican American) was compared three different ways--among ethnic groups, within ethnic groups by vocational education or nonvocational education program, and by ethnic groups and program. Student data were gathered by a largely closed-ended questionnaire. The goals and objectives of this study related to black vocational education, tri-ethnic analysis, vocational education composition and enrollment analysis, and a thorough demographic analysis. Part 1 discussed the findings of a previous study which were responsible for the present research effort project goals, general methodology, description of target population, and the organization and phasing utilized in its execution. Part 2 analyzed and compared characteristics, attitudes, aspirations, and problems of 1,600 black, Mexican American, and Anglo students in six urban Texas school districts with large minority student populations. Part 3 summarized the results and discussed some of the implications which this and other studies have for vocational education in Texas and the role of occupational research activities. Many issues concerning vocational education and minority youth were clarified in this study; other questions were raised. However, the data base established here should alert educators to and inform them about the special sensitivity of today's high school youth. (AH)