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FFA Curriculum

Discussion created by Joni Fields on Aug 24, 2010
Latest reply on Mar 5, 2017 by Joe C. Moore

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I am starting my 3rd year of teaching and as of yesterday, we had been in school 2.5 days when I got asked to come to my principals office. I had a traditional farm boy drop ag class and go to FACS class, because he and his parent thought there was to much emphasis on FFA in my classroom. I spend 4-5 weeks on FFA in my Ag Science I Class. Is this longer than most or shorter than most? I don't really think it is too long. I mean after all, most of my units are 3 weeks on average and sometimes, depending on the students in the class, it might take us a little longer or it might not even take us as long as we had planned. After the FFA Unit is over, I don't really spend much time on it in the classroom directly unless we have a big event coming up, or something of that nature. I do make any necessary announcements at the beginning of class when I need to.

My principal is definitly more of a sports guy, so when it comes down to it, he doesn't get the ag program the best and sometimes it seems as though he tries and other times he could care less. I guess, my question is how much time should I spend on FFA? I know that it will vary from school to school and program to program, but I would like to know what other do. I wish it was where I could make it mandatory for students in ag class to be in FFA, but at my school, that just won't happen.

Any suggestions, ideas, etc, let me know! I would appreicate it! I am a little discouraged about all of this....

Thanks!!!

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Kala Miller Aug 24, 2010 6:56 PM
I would say your unit is just as long as what I taught last year and what I plan to for this year! If it makes you feel better I had a 7th grader tell me that his mom said he couldn't join FFA because it was to religious! I told him to have his mom call me and forewarned my principal. I also made sure to assure him that we said prayer only at banquet and at the annual Thanksgiving dinner. I told him he would be excused from these events and did not have to participate if he felt uncomfortable.
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Joe C. Moore @ Kala Miller on Mar 5, 2017 11:42 PM
Sounds like there is a lot more problems in that family than what classes their kids take.
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Tera Harlow Aug 24, 2010 7:14 PM
We spend 4 weeks on FFA- that is not including public speaking, CDE's or SAE's-- we do that the next four weeks. I think you are fine! A lot of people don't get it-- don't worry... In CT, we skip the religious stuff, but it doesn't make FFA any less meaningful. I find it amusing how religious it can get in the southern states, but things are just different up here!
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Ellen Thompson Aug 30, 2010 11:58 AM
I've been thinking about this question a lot lately and I want to provide a few things in addition to what the others said.

First, I can definitely relate. My second year of teaching a girl went to the principal and wanted to be removed from my Horticulture class because I said something about oxygen and leaves and she didn't agree with me. Now later she decided to be home schooled because none of the teachers were rigorous enough. I wish I could say that these are extreme circumstances but I think students today feel more entitlement to everything. I learned a lot about myself, my teaching, and my administration in that circumstance. First, I really made sure everything I said was as accurate as it could be, that I had to exude more confidence and my administration was a wonderful blessing because they supported me through the whole thing.

Now to your specific issue. First, in my opinion we don't Teach FFA we Use FFA to TEACH students. If you look at it from that perspective you can stand firmly on your curriculum. I had a parent once question why their student had to learn the FFA creed, who cares she said if he knows this, how will it ever be useful in his life. I told her perhaps it will never be something he uses but the process to reciting will be beneficial; being responsible and dedicating time to learning it, practicing public speaking, word articulation, discussing the meaning behind words, etc. I felt like once I explained it that way she was on board. From that day forward I made a special effort to inform parents about the why and how of the FFA in the classroom. I guess to me that is what the FFA curriculum is all about and for that matter a great deal of the curriculum in other ag classes as well. Others may disagree that we are teaching vocational career ready job specific skills, and to some extent we are but I think it is about using interesting material to get students to think in different ways to prepare them for any opportunity life throws at them.

So your FFA curriculum could be as long or as short as you would like as long as the point is grow and educate students. FFA history can be a deeper look into equal rights, gender equity, and agriculture trends. The motto and dress code a lesson tied to professionalism and goals/mission statements. One thing I really tried to do after that parent questioned me was reiterate to the students how the FFA lesson affected all aspects of their life.

Anyway, maybe this was more than you wanted to hear.

FWIW, my FFA unit was 4 weeks.

Have a great school year.
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Joni Fields Aug 30, 2010 1:15 PM
Thank you all for your support and help! Ellen, I so totally agree with your statement about not teaching FFA, but using it to help teach the students. My students that stay with me and learn the history, etc and whether they join FFA or not always enjoy knowing about the FFA and how it can help them as an individual. I hope that this issue doesn't arise again, but if it does, I will definitly be looking at it more from your perspective and think about what you have said. Since this issue happened, there has been no more mentioning of it so I hope we are good to go!

Thanks again for your advice and support! We really do work in the great profession!!!!!!!!
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