Attitudes and Perceptions of Blacks toward Vocational Education.

The concern that few black students participate in secondary level vocational education programs prompted this study on the attitudes of black students, parents, teachers, and business owners/managers toward vocational education, and on differences in attitudes between the different categories of blacks investigated. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews with subjects from Wichita, Kansas. Results indicated that: (1) attitudes of students and parents toward vocational education were not significantly different, but those between students and businessmen, students and teachers, parents and teachers, parents and businessmen, and businessmen and teachers, were significantly different; (2) teachers and businessmen attached more prestige to vocational education than did students and parents; (3) students, parents, and businessmen were more confident that vocational education prepares students for employment than were teachers; (4) parents and teachers were most opposed while students were least opposed to removing vocational education from the educational system; and (5) all groups agreed that participation in vocational education programs would significantly improve a black student's ability to find employment, that vocational education is as important as a college education, and that more vocational education opportunities should be made available to blacks. Recommendations for the Wichita Public Schools were formulated based upon the findings. (MJL)