Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine how parents influence African American students' decisions to prepare for vocational teaching careers. Qualitative methodology addresses the research objectives. Twelve African American college students were interviewed to determine how parents influenced them to prepare for vocational teaching careers and specific vocational concentrations. The following five influences emerged: (a) desire to imitate parents' altruistic behavior and role as community contributors; (b) high academic and career expectations by parents; (c) parental support for academic and occupational endeavors; (d) parents providing early exposure to vocational subject matter and/or the teaching field, and (e) parents aiding in the discovery of aptitudes and interests in vocational subject matter. Implications for recruiting African American students are discussed.
Highlights
The purpose of this study is to determine how parents influence African American students’ decisions to prepare for vocational teaching careers
The literature is replete with factors influencing the career choice processes of individuals from various races and nationalities, research highlighted the influence and support of significant others as foremost factors in the career choices of African Americans (Kimbrough & Salomone, 1993; Parham & Austin, 1994)
If parents serve as major influences in the career choice processes of African American children, their influence may provide key determinants behind motivations to enter the specific field of vocational teaching
Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine how parents influence African American students’ decisions to prepare for vocational teaching careers. Twelve African American college students were interviewed to determine how parents influenced them to prepare for vocational teaching careers and specific vocational concentrations. African American parents, serve as major influences that define the career choices of African American youngsters (Leong, 1995; Parham & Austin, 1994). If parents serve as major influences in the career choice processes of African American children, their influence may provide key determinants behind motivations to enter the specific field of vocational teaching. The focus of this study is to determine how parents or parental caretakers influence African American students’ to prepare for vocational teaching careers
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