An Assessment of Career Education Needs in Mississippi.

Career education needs improvement at all educational levels in Mississippi according to summarized results of a 1976 survey of students and faculty in public schools and in schools for the blind, deaf, and crippled students. Among sixth grade students, 64% feel their parents can best advise them regarding a career, while 49% of twelfth grade students feel teachers and counselors can be most helpful. Junior college and college sophomores feel teachers and parents are equally influential. Physically disadvantaged students depend to a much greater degree on their teachers and counselors for career information and are more oriented to jobs than to careers. They need more career awareness. Students at all levels need to assess their interests, values, and goals in preparation for career choices. They also need to understand the relationship of the curriculum to the world of work, but only 18% of ninth graders have teachers who often relate school to work. Most public school teachers and fewer teachers of the disadvantaged want to teach career education although they feel unprepared to do so and need inservice training. The Mississippi State Career Education Advisory Board is using the findings in planning comprehensive career education throughout the state. (SB)