Abstract
Iowa speech and theatre programs were surveyed in 1975, 1985, and now in 1994 in order to better understand how the discipline is changing, identify areas where it has remained stable, and suggest ways in which improvements might be made in the quality of education. This most recent survey provides valuable, updated information which will serve educators, supervisors, and administrators in determining the specific strengths and weaknesses of speech and theatre programs in the state of Iowa. Teachers and administrators may also compare programs among schools in curricular and cocurricular activities, and overall changes in the past 20 years.
The results from this survey may also be used to help strengthen student teacher education to better meet the needs of Iowa secondary school programs in speech and theatre. Overall, we hope that by updating teacher concerns we can identify and address the most critical problems facing speech and theatre education. We are both encouraged and discouraged by the results of the current survey. For example, the data revealed: 1. a decrease in the offering of a basic speech course; 2. a sharp increase in the reported class size for the basic speech course; 3. a significant decrease in the use of behavioral objectives; 4. the continuation of strong participation in speech and theatre programs state wide; and 5. strong support for speech and theatre programs by school administration. The implications of these and other issues will be addressed in detail throughout the remainder of this article.
Journal Title
Iowa Journal of Communication
Volume
27
Issue
2
First Page
29
Last Page
65
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Erbert, Larry A. and Trank, Douglass
(1995)
"Status of Speech and Theatre Education in Iowa Secondary Schools: A Look at the Last 20 Years,"
Iowa Journal of Communication: Vol. 27:
No.
2, Article 4.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/ijc/vol27/iss2/4
Copyright
©1995 Iowa Communication Association
