PERCEPTIONS OF IOWA SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TOWARD AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine principals ‘perceptions of secondary agricultural education programs in Iowa high schools with agricultural education programs. A stratified random sample consisting of 147 principals was selected. Researcher-constructed questionnaires were developed, tested and mailed to a stratified random sample of principals. Strata consisted of Agricultural Education districts as outlined by the State of Iowa Department of Education. Overall, principals expressed favorable perceptions of agriculture programs, courses, and teachers. They expressed perceptions that students enjoy agricultural education courses and believed those courses reinforced learning in other subject matter areas. The overall knowledge or familiarity level of agricultural education programs by principals was generally positive. Principals believed agricultural education teachers were high quality teachers, but did not believe they were more effective than other teachers. Principals tended to support agricultural education programs, and disagreed with the statement that agricultural education courses provided little for students ' intellectual development. They also perceived agricultural education programs to be important to their community, and that any high school student could benefit from coursework in agricultural education. Recommendations included further research to determine the relationship of principals ‘perceptions to actual practices of support.