PRESERVICE AGRICULTURE TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF CAREER BARRIERS AND SUPPORT

Abstract

This descriptive study examined the perceptions of career barriers and career support of preservice agriculture teachers and determined if gender differences existed. Data were collected from 215 preservice agriculture teachers using a survey instrument administered by teacher educators at 35 institutions across the nation. Results showed participants were primarily Caucasian, grew up in rural areas, and were considering agricultural education as a first career. Participants perceived the likelihood of career barriers to be low and their level of career support to be high. The issues most likely to become barriers were found to pertain to family responsibilities and relationships, desire to live in a certain area, and an unwillingness to move away. Participants perceived the most support from their teacher educators, agriculture teachers, and cooperating/mentor teachers. No statistical or practical differences were found between perceptions of career barriers and career support for female and male participants.