PROBLEMS FACED BY BEGINNING AGRICULTURAL TEACHERS PREPARING FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EVENTS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENTS

The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the preservice needs of beginning agricultural science teachers in Texas in regard to preparing for career development events and leadership development events. Perceptions of beginning agriscience teachers were used to determine these pre-service needs. The data was collected using a mailed questionnaire. The subjects of this study were a random selection of the beginning to fifth year agriscience teachers in Texas according to a list from the Vocational Agricultural Teachers Association of Texas (VATAT). The population consisted of 285 beginning teachers. One hundred forty-two beginning teachers were chosen to participate in the study. Beginning agriscience teachers rated chapter conducting highest of the LDEs in terms of importance, competence and familiarity. Ag. Issues Forum is the LDE which most beginning agriscience place the least amount of importance as well as having the least competence and familiarity. Beginning agriscience teachers consider livestock judging to be the most popular CDE in Texas. Depending on geographic areas in which beginning teachers had completed either high school or university training, forestry and cotton classing are the events which are considered least in terms of familiarity, importance an