Beau G. Grubb

Publication Date

1966

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Crank, Floyd L.||Maxwell, Lyle

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Business Administration

LCSH

High schools--Alumni and alumnae; Educational counseling

Abstract

The Problem The purpose of this paper was (1) to determine whether the Business Education Program of Lake Forest High School is successfully preparing its graduates for initial employment, (2) to attempt to determine what the high school graduates considered necessary preparation for initial employment, and (3) to seek a basis for suggestions and recommendations to the business education department relative to curriculum planning. Procedure A questionnaire to survey business major graduates was composed and mailed to the business majors of 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964 as determined by checking the permanent records of Lake Forest High School. Follow up was accomplished by telephoning the graduates and recording their oral answers. One hundred fifteen (115) graduates were sent a questionnaire; no contact by mail or phone call could be made with 5 graduates. Responses were received or recorded from 87 graduates. This represents a return of 79 per cent. Summary of Findings 1. The business education department offers courses to satisfy the personal needs of the students as well as adequate preparation for a variety of initial positions. 2. The percentage of business major graduates is decreasing annually. 3. Initial employment was most frequently obtained by the individual's aggressiveness. 4. There is a noticable weakness in the areas of guidance and job placement on the part of this high school. 5. A majority of these graduates were initially employed in an office clerical capacity. 6. The place of initial employment was most frequently a local business. 7. The ten-key adding machine was the office machine most frequently used by these graduates. 8. Training provided by Lake Forest High School was sufficient for initial employment. 9. Typewriting is the most frequently elected business subject, but office practice was selected as a "very useful" course by the largest percentage of enrollees. Shorthand students were evenly divided as to whether shorthand was a course of "little use" or a "very useful" course. 10. Most of these graduates have received post-high school training. 11. Personal curiosity and interest was the greatest influencing factors in the decision to pursue a major in business education. Conclusions 1. The business curriculum, of Lake Forest High School is weak in its offerings of socio-economic courses, but it affords adequate preparation in the area of marketable skills. 2. There is a need for a better program of selling and public relations as well as a need for course offerings which will attract boys to this department. 3. There is a need to establish a job placement officer and a graduate follow-up system. 4. To complete this survey picture, there is a need to survey the local businesses relative to employment requirements and standards. 5. A better selective procedure for shorthand students is needed. 6. The business curriculum did meet the needs of these graduates for initial employment. 7. There appears to be a weakness in vocational guidance within the department and the school.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

iv, 84 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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