CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………… 1
General Problem……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
Study Focus and Purpose…………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Study Importance……………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Study Boundaries……………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………. 10
Overview……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
Democratic Education……………………………………………………………………………………… 11
Teaching in a Democratic School……………………………………………………………………… 21
Vocational Education………………………………………………………………………………………. 23
Approaches to Teaching…………………………………………………………………………………… 28
Effects of Traditional Education on Vocational Education…………………………………… 35
Adult Education………………………………………………………………………………………………. 40
Teacher Preparation for Vocational Education……………………………………………………. 44
Special Education and Vocational Education……………………………………………………… 45
Dropout Prevention…………………………………………………………………………………………. 50
Summary……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 50
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH………………………………………. 52
Research Site and Subject Selection………………………………………………………………….. 52
Research Methods…………………………………………………………………………………………… 53
Research Instruments………………………………………………………………………………………. 54
Student Surveys…………………………………………………………………………………………… 54
Student Interviews……………………………………………………………………………………….. 55
Journals………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 56
Classroom Observations……………………………………………………………………………….. 58
Research Steps………………………………………………………………………………………………… 58
Qualifications of Researcher…………………………………………………………………………….. 62
CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS…………………………………………………. 64
Diversity in the Student Population…………………………………………………………………… 65
Need for Different Learning Styles……………………………………………………………………. 72
Need for Varying Time Commitments……………………………………………………………….. 79
Need for Motivation Through Involvement………………………………………………………… 84
Students With Learning Disabilities need Individualized Instruction…………………….. 90
Including Students’ Voices………………………………………………………………………………. 95
Encouraging Greater Community Involvement…………………………………………………… 99
Student Interviews…………………………………………………………………………………………. 101
Prior and Current Education………………………………………………………………………… 102
Learning Disabilities………………………………………………………………………………….. 103
Motivation for Attending…………………………………………………………………………….. 103
Meeting Expectations and Current Education………………………………………………… 104
Improvement and Change…………………………………………………………………………… 105
Conclusions Drawn from Interviews…………………………………………………………….. 106
Conclusions………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 107
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………………….. 109
Learning Needs of the Postsecondary Vocational Student………………………………….. 109
Postsecondary Education Must Allow for Multiple Learning Styles…………………. 110
Postsecondary Vocational Education Must Embrace Diversity………………………… 112
Postsecondary Vocational Education Must Allow Participation with Varying Time Commitment………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 115
Postsecondary Vocational Education Must Include Students with Learning Disabilities 118
Postsecondary Vocational Education Must Motivate Students…………………………. 120
Postsecondary Vocational Education Must Involve the Community…………………. 124
Potential Challenges of Democratic Education………………………………………………. 126
Conclusions………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 127
Recommendations for Instructors………………………………………………………………… 128
Recommendations for Vocational Schools……………………………………………………. 129
Actions Being Taken at Research Site……………………………………………………………… 131
Study Limitations………………………………………………………………………………………….. 132
Issues for Further Research…………………………………………………………………………….. 133
REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 135