The Development of Career Activities for Fourth Grade Students

• Main Author: Southwick, Barbara P. M.
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 1972
• Subjects: Psychology; School Psychology
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/5738; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6777&context=etd

Today's youth have few real contacts with the work world and have little knowledge of what is expected from them. Many grade school youngsters are not aware of the type of work their parents are doing. Some do not even know where their parents work. It is difficult for most elementary students to see the relationship between their present school activities and their future life. And all too often, students can not express personal goals or plans. As students become more aware of the world of work, they should be better prepared to enter it and they should also develop an appreciation of work and a self-concept that leads to a more fruitful and satisfactory life. The career development approach is underway to some degree in every state in the Union, largely through the efforts of the United States Office of Education. It is growing in prominence in local systems and has indeed become a top priority item nationally under Commissioner Sidney P. Marland. Each state has been asked to undertake plans (with federal funds) for one or more career education projects of its own. Commissioner Marland (1972) plans that pupils in the first six grades would become familiar with the career clusters through instructional materials, field trips, and the kinds of teaching approaches now used to compliment courses in basic language, social studies, science, and mathematics. He also encourages teachers of all subjects to learn new techniques on relating their work to career education purposes. The program is expected to enhance the quality of learning in the academic subjects as a result of more realistic motivation.