Publication Date

1966

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Stehr, B. W.||Crank, Doris H.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Business Education

LCSH

Business education--Illinois--Oak Lawn; Student records

Abstract

It is the aim of the Business Department at Oak Lawn Community High School to include courses in its curriculum that will provide the students with sufficient knowledges and skills so that, upon graduation, they may obtain employment, and either maintain their positions or advance in then. The purpose of the study was to attempt to discover whether the business education curriculum, through a detailed examination of the graduates, is meeting the requisites for successful business employment. The adequateness of, or deficiencies in, the curriculum were concluded from the results of a questionnaire sent to 307 of the 1960 through 1964 business graduates. A total of 190 questionnaires was received, representing a 61.9 per cent return. The data obtained from the questionnaires were organized and recorded in tables. The resulting tables were analyzed. Findings of greatest importance follow: 1. Ninety per cent listed typewriting as one of the most helpful business subjects. Of lesser significance were shorthand, bookkeeping, secretarial and clerical practice, general business and business mathematics. 2. About 40 per cent of the respondents listed shorthand as the least helpful business subject, followed by 39 per cent listing bookkeeping and 11 per cent listing general business. 3. Most frequently mentioned of the skills not acquired in high school but required on the job were operation of office machines, switchboard reproduction machines, and bookkeeping. 4. Of the knowledges required for employment tests, typewriting, mathematics, shorthand, and English were mentioned most frequently. 5. Of the courses taken beyond high school, shorthand, bookkeeping, and typewriting were mentioned most frequently. 6. Difficulties experienced through the lack of a specific skill or qualification were found to be frequent in spelling, arithmetic, penmanship, and English. 7. Typing straight copy, typing envelopes, sorting papers, indexing and filing, proofreading, taking and transcribing shorthand, keeping checkbooks, cost figuring, keeping a set of books, and use of typewriters and rotary calculators represented a high per cent of adequate preparation in high school. The business education curriculum does adequately meet the needs of its graduates in initial employment with the exceptions of: 1. There is a need for a course in office machines open to students other than those in clerical and secretarial practice. 2. There is a need for additional training in spelling, arithmetic, penmanship, and English. 3. There is a need for training on the key punch machine.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

45 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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