National Perceptions and Management Styles of Extension Educators and Secondary Agricultural Education Instructors on the U.S. Department of Labor?s Tractor Certification Program
ISSN 2158-9429
Volume 4, Issue 2 - December 2011
Editor: Bindu Poudel-Ward
Abstract
The Hazardous Occupations Order for Agriculture was initiated in 1968 by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) mandating farm tractor and machinery safety training for 14 - 15 year old youth employed on farms and ranches. Under this regulation, youth were able to complete a one-time training program, commonly known as the Tractor and Machinery Certification (TMC) program. The training was dependent upon two designated entities, either the federal Extension 4-H program or the vocational agriculture school-based programs. In the 40 plus years since the legislation went into effect, deficiencies and variations have occurred in the quality of the training and the system by which agencies certify young people. Little empirical evidence was known how local instructors selected their curriculum and managed their programs. This study surveyed 330 local instructors in 33 U.S. states to determine management styles, type of curriculum, amount of administrative support, and their perceptions of the Tractor and Machinery Certification program. Overall, instructors believed the top three issues that would increase the effectiveness of the DOL program included community awareness, employer support, and access to teaching resources. In fact, the findings revealed instructors placed a higher value on standardized teaching materials than on standardized testing procedures.
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