Value of Supervised Occupational Experience Programs as Perceived by Parents, Employers, and Vocational Agriculture Instructors

Supervised occupational experience (SOE) is a key component of vocational agriculture programs; one that involves not only teacher, classroom, and student, but parents and employers as well. Research, however, has pri-marily focused on the benefits of SOE as perceived by students. Williams (1979) indicated a need for additional SOE research to identify benefits perceived by vocational agriculture students, vocational agriculture teachers, parents, school administrators, and employers. Williams (1977) also identified parents as an important factor in vocational agriculture SOE programs. Rawls (1980) reported that parents thought students derived three major benefits from SOE: work attitudes, occupational development, and human relation skills. Rawls (1982) stated, "Parents of vocational agriculture students recognize the educational and occupational benefits derived from SOE programs and will generally support them if they can see the benefits provided to their son or daughter " (p. 38). There is much anecdotal writing about the teacher's role in guiding and