NCJ Number
54389
Date Published
1978
Length
613 pages
Annotation
ATTITUDES TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATION ARE COMPARED FOR POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS ENROLLED IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE PROGRAMS, OTHER INSTITUTE STUDENTS, AND NONSTUDENT POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS.
Abstract
A LIKERT-SCALE QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGNED TO MEASURE ATTITUDES TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATION WAS COMPLETED BY 51 POLICE OFFICERS AND 50 FIRE FIGHTERS ENROLLED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS AT THE COLUMBUS TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, A 2-YEAR POSTHIGH SCHOOL FACILITY IN COLUMBUS, OHIO; 57 OTHER INSTITUTE STUDENTS; 55 POLICE NONSTUDENTS; AND 52 FIRE NONSTUDENTS. OVERALL, POLICE AND FIRE STUDENTS HELD A MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATION THAN THE GROUP IN GENERAL. POLICE AND FIRE STUDENTS WERE MORE LIKELY THAN NONSTUDENTS TO BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION IMPROVES SUPERVISORY SKILLS. OTHER STUDENTS ALSO HELD THIS BELIEF. POLICE AND FIRE STUDENTS AND NONSTUDENTS SHARED THE SAME PERCEPTION OF THEIR OWN SUPERVISORS' VIEWS TOWARD EDUCATION. IT APPEARS THAT EFFORTS ARE NEEDED TO CONVINCE SUPERVISORS OF THE VALUE OF EDUCATION. POLICE AND FIRE STUDENTS BELIEVED THAT EDUCATION BRINGS JOB REWARDS AND CAN IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH OTHER SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY. THEY ALSO FELT THAT SOCIETY BENEFITS FROM THE EDUCATION OF POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRE FIGHTERS. POLICE AND FIRE STUDENTS WERE MORE LIKELY THAN NONSTUDENTS TO BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION RESULTS IN BOTH JOB-RELATED AND SOCIAL IMPROVEMENT AND WERE ALSO MORE LIKELY THAN NONSTUDENTS TO HAVE A POSITIVE VIEW OF THE EDUCATIVE ENVIRONMENT (SCHOOL, TEACHERS, STUDYING, ETC.). IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS FOR ADULT EDUCATION IN GENERAL AND FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM RECRUITMENT, CURRICULUM PLANNING, AND INSTRUCTION ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA, A COPY OF THE STUDY INSTRUMENT, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)