A Longitudinal Comparison of Vocational and Non-Vocational
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Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2005 A Longitudinal Comparison of Vocational and Non-Vocational Education Students in Leon County Public Secondary Schools: A Study of May 1999 & May 2000 High School Graduates Ebenezer W. Erefah Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION A LONGITUDINAL COMPARISON OF VOCATIONAL AND NON-VOCATIONAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN LEON COUNTY PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS: A STUDY OF MAY 1999 & MAY 2000 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES By EBENEZER W. A. T. EREFAH A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education Degree Awarded: Summer Semester, 2005 Copyright © 2005 Ebenezer W. A. T. Erefah All Rights Reserved The members of the Committee approved the dissertation of Ebenezer W. A. T. Erefah defended on June 6, 2005. ___________________________ Hollie Thomas Professor Directing Dissertation ___________________________ Marsha Rehm Outside Committee Member ___________________________ William R. Snyder Committee Member ___________________________ Bonnie B. Greenwood Committee Member Approved: ________________________ Carolyn D. Herrington, Chair, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members ii To my father, Andrew Tolumoye Center Erefah (late), who strongly believed in the educational attainment of his children, and whose unassailable positive attitude toward education were the major inspirational forces behind my academic achievement; and to my mother, Sunday Officer Angaye, who always cared about her children. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This writer wishes to express his special appreciation to the many individuals whose interest, cooperation, guidance, participation, and encouragements made this dissertation possible. The author’s sincere and special thanks go to his major professor, Dr. Hollie Thomas, whose professional experience, wisdom, concerns, challenging thoughts, guidance, mentoring, and patience have helped produce this rewarding document. The author further expresses his special gratitude to other members of the supervising committee: Dr. William R. Snyder (although retired from the university, still honored the author’s request to remain on the committee), Dr. Marsha Rehm, and Dr. Bonnie B. Greenwood; for their encouragements, insights, constructive suggestions, counseling, and patience, during the development and completion of this study. The writer also wishes to express thanks to Dr. Hugh Hinely, and Dr. Victor Hernendez who were members of the supervisory committee, but respectively retired and resigned from the university prior to the completion of this study. Also, a special appreciation to Dr. Albert C. Ooterhof, a former member of the supervising committee whose expertise in the areas of methodology and statistical analyses helped to make this study possible, but left before this work was completed due to a sabbatical leave from the university. The writer further wishes to express his acknowledgments to members of his church family in Tallahassee, St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church; especially to The Reverend (Fr.) Carl C. Murray, The Reverend (Fr.) David Suellau, The Reverend Canon Laughton Thomas, the Vestry, Mr. Matthew Estaras (late), Dr. Colin Benjamin, Dr. Neil James, and Senator Al Lawson for all their prayers and encouragements during the production of this document. A feeling of indebtedness is expressed to Mr. Duane Whitefield who was the Director of the FETPIP database, and his programmer Mr. Terry Collier; Garnet Lavon Duke, Jr., the Bureau Chief of the EIAS database, and his programmers, Mrs. Priscilla Farrow, and Mrs. Martha Havnes; Dr. Thomas Fisher, the Educational policy Director in the Students Assessment Section of Florida Department of Education (FDOE). The writer’s special iv appreciation also goes to the staff of Vocational Education and Workforce Development Section of FDOE: Mrs. Loretta Costin, Bureau Chief, Dr. Beverly A. Nash, Director, and other staff members in the division who gave special assistance during my internship, research, and collection of data towards this project. The author further wishes to express his sincere acknowledgments to these friends: Drs. Sekimonyo Magango, Hudson Nwakanma, Adeniji Odutola, Anthony AWA Zikiye (late), Arland Billups, Dana Dennard, Seward Hamilton, Joseph A. Baldwin, Ted Hemingwey, Ufot B. Inamete, Olu Moloye, Oghenekome Onokpise, Confidence Amadi, Soronaji Nnaji, Ebenezer Oriaku, Keith Simmonds, Yaw A. Owusu, Fredrick Essien, Jude Onwuli, Zacch I. Olorunnipa, and to Messrs. Norman Bellamy, Philip Owi, Aristoto Bonnie, Reuben Iyamu, Panebi Stephen Orudiakumo, Racheed Akangbe, Anthony Jack, Oluwale Ale, George Amadi, John Eze, Rabbani Muhammad, and Olurotimi T. Fadiora, and Chief Olabode Augustine Ajagbe, who throughout the author’s trying periods gave encouragements by either words of mouth or by phone calls: “Ebenezer, be on it, you are there!” The writer also wishes to recognize his brothers: Mr. Benjamin Amatari Andrew Tolumoye Erefah, Mr. Matthew Ebikiseiye Andrew Tolumoye Erefah, Dr. Augustus Zuobo Andrew Tolumoye Erefah, Mr. Bodiseowei Kevin Tamono, and Mr. Tunumubofa Apuge. Special recognitions also goes to members of my family: Reverend Freshman Ezikiel Stephen. Erefa (uncle), Dr. Cleopas Officer Angaye (uncle), Mr. Isaac Officer Angaye (uncle), Ms. Molony Officer Angaye (niece), Ambassador (Dr.) Lawrence Baraebibai Epkebu, Dr. Gesiye S. Angaye, Hon. Justice Koripamo David Ungbuku, Senator Amatari Zuofa, Dr. Bula Godknows and Mrs. Tokoni Igali, Mr. Samson James Bikikoro, Mr. Ephraim James Bikikoro, Ms. Cassandra Lawson, Mr. Fidelis Wolaebi Iyebote, Mr. Lawrence Gbaranbiri Ogionwo, Mr. Ebi Ndiamaowei, Mr. Charles Zuofa, Sgt. Kalayefa Abednigo, and Mr. Jomo Ekpebu. Finally, the author’s special and sincere appreciation is especially extended to his wife, Barrister Amadiere Modupe Zuofa-Erefah, for her selfless sacrifices, support, love, and her constant encouragements, during the duration of this study. My sincere thanks also goes to my children: Andrew Imomotimi Erefah, Sherman Imomoweni Erefah, Daniel Ebizimo Oluwafemi Erefah, Abigail Tolumoye Erefah, Edmond Ebibarabowei Erefah, and Solomon Erefah (late), for their love, supports, and patience, during the trying period of their father. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ xi Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ......................................................................................... 3 The Background ....................................................................................................... 3 Research Questions .................................................................................................... 4 Significance of the Study ......................................................................................... 6 Definition of Terms ................................................................................................. 7 Note on Definition Changes and Limitations of The Study .................................... 11 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ....................................................................................... 13 III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................. 31 Analytical Method ................................................................................................... 33 IV. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY ...................................................................................... 42 Summary of the Findings ........................................................................................ 325 V. SUMMARY OF METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................... 332 APPENDICES APPENDIX A ....................................................................................................... 342 APPENDIX B ....................................................................................................... 343 APPENDIX C ....................................................................................................... 347 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 352 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .............................................................................................. 361 vi LIST OF TABLES 1. High School Vocational Education Electives ......................................................... 8 2. The Sample of Vocational and Non-vocational Education Participants (May 1999, and May 2000 High School Graduates) .............................................. 34 3. Students Participation (Sample) May 1999 and May 2000 High School Graduates Data ........................................................................................................ 35 4. May 1999 Vocational and Non-vocational Education High