Graduate Program

Educational Administration

Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1984

Thesis Director

David E. Bartz

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the problems involved in current supervision of vocational high schools in the Republic of China and propose methods of improving such supervision. Emphasis was placed on the supervision of teaching and administration in the field of vocational education.

A review of related literature revealed that supervision was a synthesis of curriculum, instruction, administration, human relationships, management, and leadership. Supervision should stimulate, coordinate, and guide vocational high school teaching.

A questionnaire was developed to gain information concerning "supervisory problems" administrators and technical faculty perceived, and the ways supervision could be improved. The questionnaire was mailed to 144 respondents who included principals, deans of study, chiefs of practice, chiefs of departments, and technical teachers in vocational high schools. A response rate of seventy-six percent was obtained.

Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were utilized. In cases when applicable, a mean score was indicated. It was found that

  1. At least ninety-two percent of all the respondents reported that the supervisors had an acceptable attitude for proper supervision and the school personnel treated them cooperatively.
  2. Although at least seventy-seven percent of all the respondents reported supervision had a positive effect on both instruction and administration, supervisors put additional emphasis on the general administrative affairs. Respondents indicated that the most appropriate proportion of administrative supervision to instructional supervision should be even.
  3. More than one-half of all the respondents reported that to be the most effective, supervisors should be divided into administrative supervisors and instructional supervisors. Moreover, supervisors should be divided generally into several departments according to vocational areas.
  4. The following suggestions were offered to appropriate personnel for supervisors: (a) select administrators in schools and professors (b) have the supervision assigned to someone within the school (c) organize "teams" for supervision (d) set up a "Guidance Center" for vocational education.
  5. Related courses about the supervision of vocational education should be developed .
  6. Only school personnel should be made aware of the results of supervisory school visits. Finally, six suggestions for policies and the other twelve suggestions for implementing policies were recommended to the concerned educational authorities.

Those for policies were as follows:

  1. Establish an official division of supervision to enhance its function.
  2. Give the same emphasis to supervision of both administration and instruction.
  3. Put appropriate emphasis on the supervision of vocational education.
  4. Utilize supervisors who have a major in supervision as well as vocational education.
  5. Plan and implement a licensing system for supervisors.
  6. Set up a new subject of "vocational educational supervisors" for the High Civil Service Examination.

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