Competencies Needed for Professional Growth as Rated by Virginia Home Economics Teachers and Teacher Educators

Abstract

In 1974, the American Home Economics Association developed a basic list of pre professional and professional competencies needed for growth in home economics. The competencies were assigned no priority rankings but were divided into five classifica tions: Educational Philosophy and Home Economics, Research in Home Economics, Program Planning in Home Economics, The Educative Process in Home Economics, and Professional Role in Home Economics. For this study, a preliminary list of profes sional teaching competencies for Virginia home economics teachers was identified. The list was based upon a combination of the AHEA preprofessional and professional com petencies and was rated by teachers and teacher educators in the state of Virginia. Means were obtained to determine the highest rated competencies and a cluster analysis was performed to determine the priority rankings of the AHEA classifications of com petency as stressed by teachers and teacher educators employed in various educational settings. Competency statements were ranked differently by various groups of teachers and teacher educators. Therefore, it was concluded that an examination needs to be made of the differing needs of teachers who are employed in various educational settings in order to determine the priorities to be given to each of the AHEA classifications for that particular situation. However, the AHEA competency classifications can pro vide a basis for planning professional classes.