A Philosophical Perspective Revisiting Teaching “In” and “About” Agriculture
Keywords:
Agricultural Literacy, Agriculture Workforce, Career and Technical Education, School-Based Agricultural EducationAbstract
School-based agricultural education (SBAE) has evolved considerably in the last century. This philosophical perspective examines the history of formal agricultural education in the United States and explores how early contributions to agricultural education shaped the structure of modern SBAE. The divergent roles of agricultural education to: 1) provide a qualified agricultural workforce for the 21st century, and 2) educate students about agriculture, are discussed. Furthermore, a conceptual framework for the structure of K-12 agricultural education is proposed, which attempts to provide a solution to gaps in agricultural career readiness and agricultural literacy.
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