Phase 1: Business Education as Vocational Education Socio-Economic Background Leading to the Development of Business Education Curriculum

The business sector demands training for prospective employees Apprenticeship training Private business schools

Expanding economy leads to schools supported through the tax dollar More opportunities Industrialization Urbanization Women in the workplace Expanding economy

In general, the demands by society and the economy formed the socio-economic foundations of vocational business education.

By the 1920’s, vocational business education was firmly rooted in the American high school

The curriculum was transplanted from private business schools. Big three – typewriting – bookkeeping – shorthand “Others—commercial geography, management, commercial law, etc. All vocational objective

Then came the depression! Two things happened that focused attention on basic business education as general education – The faltering economy – Low level of employment

The faltering economy promoted fierce competition for the scarce consumer dollar Credit Interest Buying motives Consumer economics Factors of production Savings Financial (money) management Economic understandings

A realization that a citizen is both a consumer and a producer Must develop economic literacy for all citizens (general education) Must provide skills to enable citizens to become better producers (vocational education)

Low level of employment The second socio-economic force that influenced business education at this time Students stayed in schools longer No jobs—skill subjects lost some of their appeal Business teachers began to put more emphasis on basic business courses Business education objectives begin to change

Phase 2: Business Education as General Education and Vocational Education

Since the 1950’s, the business curriculum should contribute to the goals of general education by providing: Basic business education for all students Vocational education for students preparing for a business career Business education for students who plan to college