Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
PhD
College
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department
Agricultural & Extension Education
Committee Chair
Rachel Hendrix
Committee Co-Chair
Jessica Blythe
Committee Member
Jessica Blythe
Committee Member
Becky Haddad
Committee Member
Katie Jones
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore how adult children of women agricultural education teachers articulate their experiences growing up with their mother working in the agricultural education field. This will be examined through the following research. The phenomenological study focused on the perceptions of five adult children of female agricultural education teachers in a single state. The research was conducted through recorded virtual interviews with a targeted list of pre-determined questions. Five themes emerged after utilizing Colaizzi’s phenomenological method of analysis: 1) Mother’s Commitment to Implementing the Three Circle Model, 2) The Need for Outside “Maternal” Role Assistance, 3) The Blurred Lines Between Career and Family, 4) The Demand for Female Agricultural Education Teachers to Fulfill the Maternal Role in the Classroom, and 5) Mom Tried. As children of female agricultural education teachers, the participants in this study identified sacrifices were often required. The participants indicated their mother often had to prioritize and make decisions to achieve her self-determined definition of success in both her career and motherhood. Female agricultural education teachers often blur the lines between their career and family. Although some participants expressed resentment toward their mother’s career choices, all participants recognized the impact their mothers were making both in completing career responsibilities and fulfilling a maternal role within her classroom and spoke about their mothers with pride, admiration, and respect.
Recommended Citation
Grant, Danielle Nicole, "How Do the Commitments Required to be an Agricultural Education Teacher Impact the Children of Female Agricultural Education Teachers as Perceived by Their Children?" (2025). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 12725.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12725