| Vocational education and its early history are well documented; however, since the early 1960's, journal articles and books discussing this history, and the social, political, and technological changes leading to current legislation, have diminished. Congressional Records, a few journal articles, and a few books (most recently one by Howard Gordon in 1999) chronicle the public laws pertaining to vocational education legislation.; The purpose of this study was to investigate federal legislation for vocational education and federal legislation that supports vocational legislation. In order to put together a comprehensive look at this legislation, the period covered begins with the Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act of 1917 and continues through the 1998 Carl D. Perkins Amendments to the Vocational and Applied Technology and Education Act. Sub-problems investigated were: What was the purpose for the specific legislation; what was the political climate of the period; what were the social needs for the legislation; what were the economic needs for the legislation. This study further investigated what were the technological changes that required workers to be trained through vocational education, leadership as related to vocational education, the characteristics of successful leaders and how future leaders are being developed.; The research methodology used in this study included both indirect observation of primary sources (congressional records) and secondary sources (journal articles and books), which were used to compile and chronicle the events leading to the social, political, economic, and technological changes that provided Congress with substantive data to support requests for the funding for vocational education.; The findings of this study suggest that vocational education was, and continues to be, the primary method for training the American workforce. Vocational education has also been cited as a primary contributor to our national security by providing technical support for the manufacturing of machinery used in the defense of our country. In order to maintain its position as a major world power, America must compete in a new global economy that is dominated by new technology for manufacturing. It is through vocational education that this will be accomplished. |
