Publication Date

8-1936

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Lee Jones, Louis Salomon, H.L. Stephens

Degree Program

School of Teacher Education

Degree Type

Master of Arts

Abstract

This study has grown out of the desire of the writer to render some service to prospective high-school teachers in their selection of majors and teaching combinations, and to be of aid to the teacher-training institutions of the State - especially to Western Kentucky State Teachers College in directing prospective teachers to pursue courses that will fit them for the teaching demands of the high schools.

A number of studies of subject combinations in high-school teachers' programs have been made to determine in what fields and what subject combinations high school teachers actually teach. Clarence Nelvin Emrick1 in his Master of Arts thesis has made such a study of Kentucky, and given a review of previous studies of subject combinations. For Kentucky he found that 31.76 per cent of the high school teachers were teaching one subject; 31.11 per cent were teaching two subjects; 11 per cent were teaching four subjects; 2.94 per cent were teaching five subjects. He concludes that teachers should be prepared to teach in not fewer than four fields.

That the demand for teachers should be determined by the needs of the schools all will agree, but there may be a wide divergence of opinion as to what the needs of the schools are. In whatever way the needs are interpreted, the demand always includes teachers for unfilled vacancies, teachers for new positions and teachers for replacements. The State Department of Education and the teacher-training institutions are in a position to know present needs and to reckon future needs. the supply of teachers is measured by the number of individuals who are certified or can be certified to teach. It is the purpose of this study to show the major and minor subjects and the twelve hour credit subjects of graduating students in Western Kentucky State Teachers College in the years 1934-1935 and 1935-1936. It is thought that a study of the data for the two years will show trends and be of help to the institution in advising prospective teachers in subject combinations so that they will be qualified to meet the teaching demands of the high schools.

By determining the major fields selected, the minors chosen, and the teaching fields of twelve-hour credit it should be possible to obtain the objectives of this study: (1) the proper selection of subjects by the prospective teacher; (2) the intelligent guidance by teacher-training institutions.

1. Clarence Nelvin Emrick. Subject Combinations of High School Teachers, unpublished Master of Arts Thesis, Western Kentucky State Teachers College, Bowling Green, Ky., 1932.

Disciplines

Curriculum and Instruction | Education | Educational Administration and Supervision | Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching | Secondary Education and Teaching | Teacher Education and Professional Development

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