This report contains a proposed framework for the subject matter of vocational education that is presented in two sections. Section 1 describes concepts central to the idea and ideal of vocational education. The analysis and interpretation of each concept are summarized as a set of propositions concerning the meaning of vocational education. These concepts include the educated person, education, vocation(al), vocational development, and vocational education. Section 2 presents the proposed conceptual framework for the subject matter of vocational education. It addresses each of five dimensions of the meaning of vocational education: focus, uniqueness, content, method, and structure. A proposal is made that the content of vocational education be drawn from the personal and practical problems faced by people in striving for a more desirable social state of affairs in the workplace and family and the cognitive processes need to resolve these problems. A framework is presented that describes the desired state of affairs in the family and in the workplace. Issues in describing the problem of vocational life are discussed, and the problem areas of vocational life are listed. A table sets forth exemplary problems of vocational life, including the problem area, description, and illustration. The discussion covers moving from problem areas and problems to content of learning. The section concludes with questions and activities to stimulate and clarify the proposed framework. (107 references) (YLB)