The Perceptions of Black High School Students Toward Vocational and Technical Education Programs

Abstract

Education continues to assume increasing importance in today's technological society. It is for this reason that the Federal Government has allocated large sums of money for training and human development in vocational and technical education programs. Congress allocated over $800 million for vocational education in the 1972-73 fiscal year.1 Existing programs are being expanded and new ones are being initiated yearly, with additional resources being directed toward vocational and public education programs. There is a growing concern on the part of educators regarding the perceptions and attitudes of black students toward vocational education. Indeed, in order to enable public education to initiate social, cultural, and economic growth, educators should have a broad perspective of the perceptions of these students toward traditional education programs. The industry's increasing need for highly skilled workers has generally left those without skills in a difficult employment situation. The black student's inability to meet the business and industrial requirements for greater occupational and employable skills hinders him as a worker and citizen in society. At the same time,