The Educational and Occupational Aspirations and Expectations of Black Urban High School Youth
Klar, Harry
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/68828
Description
Title
The Educational and Occupational Aspirations and Expectations of Black Urban High School Youth
Author(s)
Klar, Harry
Issue Date
1982
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Educat.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Education, Vocational
Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the educational and occupational aspirations and expectations of black inner city students enrolled in a vocational high school. Analyses were made for differences by class, sex, GPA, SES level, and helpfulness of the school in reaching the students' goals. This investigation attempted to determine if there were relationships among the students' aspirations and expectations, the reality of these reported choices, and the role of the vocational school in facilitating these choices.
Findings. Females had significantly higher expectations than males and both males and females expected significantly higher levels of education and occupations than their parents. The majority of these students expected to obtain relatively high levels of education and high levels of occupational positions regardless of their academic performance in high school and did not see a relationship between their current academic performance and opportunities in the future. Based on the various analyses in this study the expectations of these students appear to be unrealistic.
Even though these students were enrolled in a vocational high school, the great majority of them had no interest in the vocational programs offered or becoming employed in the occupational fields offered by this school. The counselors and other activities offered within this school gave significant encouragement to the students to go to college as opposed to becoming qualified for or seeking employment in the technical areas where employment has been available to graduates of this school in the past. The programs offered by this school were inconsistent with the interests and desires of the students and many of the faculty, consequently, the quality of the vocational programs offered had deteriorated.
Conclusions. The data indicate that the prevailing attitude in this urban vocational high school was oriented toward the white collar and professional occupations as ideals and emphasized college attendance as the way to opportunities for its black students. The students for the most part did not accept skilled and technical jobs as a short range goal and for further job opportunities even though they may actually provide opportunities for them.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
