The Blind Man, the Elephant, and Agricultural Education

The Purpose of Education If one were to ask six guidance counselors, principals, or people on street corner about purpose of agricultural education, one might get as many answers as men who felt of elephant. Even those in profession may have a difference of opinion about purpose of agricultural education. Let's explore some of possible answers we might get. The purpose of agricultural education is to prepare people for work. The Smith-Hughes Act, founding legislation for our field clearly stated in regards to vocational agriculture, the controlling purpose of such education shall be to fit for useful employment. Furthermore, this is primary purpose identified in national mission statement for agricultural education, Agricultural education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in global agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources systems (The Council, 2004). So it is very plain that purpose of agricultural education is to prepare people for work. The purpose of agricultural education is to reinforce academic skills and prepare students for higher education. In opening section of President's plan for reauthorization of Perkins legislation, one finds statement, . .every U.S. student needs to complete high school with a high level of academic skills and be prepared to take advantage of education and training beyond high school. (United States Department of Education, 2004) Clearly administration believes purpose of secondary vocational education is to help teach academic skills and get students ready for post-secondary education where they can learn work skills. The purpose of agricultural education is to serve special needs students. The Carl Perkins Act of 1984 called for 57% of state allocations for vocational education to be spent on special populations. Vocational education was specifically directed to work with disadvantaged, handicapped, adults who need retraining, single parents, displaced homemakers, and incarcerated. This legislation coupled with IDEA Act (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) of 1975, which brought about mainstreaming has shifted focus of vocational education to serving special populations. The purpose of agricultural education is to promote agricultural literacy. In 1988 National Research Council's report, Understanding Agriculture: New Directions for Education, suggested, all students should receive at least some systematic instruction about agriculture beginning in kindergarten or first grade and continuing through twelfth grade. …