A Comparison of Principles of Technology and High School Physics Student Achievement Using a Principles of Technology Achievement Test

Society has traditionally taken the position that education is a primary means of achieving national goals. Unfortunately, we have never collectively agreed upon “what kind” of education is needed--general or vocational. The present K-12 public educational system in the United States is comprised of general and vocational education tracts. Historically, one of the goals of vocational education has been to provide entry-level job skills. In contrast, general education, as the title implies, has attempted to equip students for living or for further education. In preparing students to enter the workforce, vocational education can provide an opportunity to obtain hands-on experiences with many of the theoretical concepts presented within the general education classes. Many secondary education students, however, never take vocational courses because they do not view them as relevant to college preparation (Meier, 1991). Conversely, many vocational education students are not taught the theoretical mathematics and science concepts that are needed to cope with a rapidly changing society. Vocational education has been considered a separate discipline within the broad context of education and has been in continuous competition with general education for students and resources. Vocational education has been concerned with providing people with gainful employment after graduation. A “Blue Collar” affiliation is considered undesirable by those students wanting to attend college or obtain further education. The unfortunate outcome is that the average high school graduate is “nonfunctional” in our modern society (Cummins, 1989). If education is designed to help the individual attain selffulfillment in a technologically complex, work-oriented society, then education must be a synthesis of both general and vocational education. Anything less jeopardizes the individual's opportunity for self-fulfillment.