A Whole School Approach to Career Education

Abstract

Who is responsible for career education? Why teach it anyway? This case study explores these questions as it describes a mapping process used to ascertain the extent of career education in a North Queensland school.

Constructing a Framework for a K-12 Career Education Program

“…Some form ofcareer education is occurring in most schools, whether intentionally or unintentionally. For example, Robinson (1997) found through mapping theschool curriculum that career education was occurring in many ways, even though itwas notformally included inschool documents. In addition, shesuggested thatmapping a school fostered a collaborative approach to be taken byschool staff.…”

“…Inaddition, school is aninfluence onthecareer development of primary and preschool age children who spend asignificant amount oftheir time in school settings. Indeed, a recent Australian study found that school isaninfluence on thecareer development ofchildren and adolescents, with orwithout the intervention ofschool staff (McMahon & Patton, 1994;1997). Betz (1993) claims that theimportance ofeducation to career development cannot beunderestimated.…”

“…Indeed, inAustralia there has been keen interest incareer education resulting inthepublication ofseveral Significant documents (Australian Education Council Review Committee, 1991;National Board ofEmployment, Education and Training, 1991;Wiltshire, McMeniman &Tolhurst, 1994) However, thereality inAustralia isthat "In real terms, and despite intense interest init, career education has received scant attention inthemajor curriculum reforms across Australia" (McCowan &McKenzie, 1997, p.vi). While much has recently been written oncareer education andits inclusion intheschool curriculum (Australian Education Council Review Committee, 1991;McCowan &McKenzie, 1994,1997McMahon & Patton, 1994;National Board ofEmployment, Education andTraining, 1991), inpractical terms few changes have occurred incareer education asitistaught inAustralian schools. Thus thepractice ofcareer education ranges from intentional whole school approaches tointentional programs for selected groups ofstudents, to unintentional programs where anaspect ofcareer education istaught aspart ofa key learning area and notrecognised as or called career education.…”