Charles Allen Prosser
Encyclopedia
Charles Allen Prosser was the Father of Vocational Education
in the United States
and the architect of the 1917 Smith-Hughes Act
. His mission in life was to help improve the education of American children.
.
He attended DePauw University
in 1897 and 1906, where he received his B.A.
and M.A.
degrees. He also attended the University of Louisville
where he received a L.L.B. degree. His Ph.D.
was from Columbia University
. Prosser also received many honorary degrees from several other universities in the United States.
Charles Allen Prosser taught physics
and history
at the old New Albany High School
. He later served as Superintendent of the local school district from 1900 until 1908. During this time he improved the old instruction system by streamlining many regular activities, he upgraded the required teacher qualifications, under his administration he built the then new high school located at E. 6th and Spring Streets, he assisted the city in obtaining the present library, and also instituted the city's first Night School
Program. Prosser was president of the Indiana Teachers Association for several years while living in Indiana
.
For several years Prosser also served as a Juvenile Judge in Floyd County
adjudicating cases involving minors and juvenile delinquents. This helped Prosser form his opinions on the needs of youth.
While superintendent, Prosser met many boys who were most interested in working with their hands to make things and only wanted to learn a trade. Prosser began to think that schools should help train boys for trades with the help of a Ph.D.
. He would not return to the superintendency at New Albany.
Dr. Prosser later began to work with other organizations including employment as the superintendent of the Children's Aid Society in New York City
where evening industrial instruction classes were offered to the public. He later became Deputy Commissioner of Industrial Education for Massachusetts
from 1910-1912, and then Secretary of the National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education again in New York City from 1912-1915.
While Prosser was Secretary of the National Society, he traveled widely forming and enthusing many individuals and groups. Prosser suggested programs and standards that helped to pass legislation that showed the entire Nation the possibilities of public vocational education. He also served as the first executive director of the Federal Board for Vocational Education from 1917–1919. Prosser also reported to congress numerous times with his mentor David Snedden. On February 23, 1917, President Wilson signed the Smith-Hughes Act into law, and federal funding for vocational education was established.
Prosser finally moved to Minneapolis, where from 1915-1945 he headed the pioneering Dunwoody Industrial Institute, where many of today's vocational training concepts were created.
Prosser died in 1952.
that began federal spending for vocational education.
Prosser believed that schools should help students "to get a job, to hold it, and to advance to a better one." He was critical of schools of the era because they focused more on scholarly works and college preparations rather than a focus on helping the students in getting real-world jobs and keeping them. Prosser believed that knowledge could not be easily transferred from one field of learning to another, instead he believed in order to be effective that learning had to be specific and directed to immediate ends. Attendees at Prosser's colleges included Georg Kerschensteiner
. Prosser believed that there should be public vocational schools as an alternative to high schools, which would offer courses for each occupation available.
It was Prosser's work in Minneapolis that set the standards for modern Vocational Education. Dr. Prosser was also an author of many textbooks on Vocational Education, many of which are still used in vocational schools today. He would often collaborate with distinguished writers for bulletins and magazine articles around the nation.
Prosser wanted to get a vocational education program in high schools because he believed everyone could benefit from vocational classes not just people going into vocational careers. He believed that vocational classes in high schools would make the students more independent. This was brought to his attention when he was working with some teenagers who had some behavioral problems. He found out that this boys loved to do things with their hands and that is what was continuously getting them in trouble. He then looked into getting vocational classes in high schools and realized that these classes would benefit all teenagers in their education development.
located in Chicago, IL is named after Charles Allen Prosser. It is a Chicago Public School (High School)
previously known as Prosser Vocational High School. The school offers a college prep International Baccalaureate program to a select few students. Charles Allen Prosser School of Technology
located in New Albany, Indiana
, Prosser's hometown, is named in his honor.
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the architect of the 1917 Smith-Hughes Act
Smith-Hughes Act
The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act of 1917 was an act of the United States Congress that promoted vocational agriculture to train people "who have entered upon or who are preparing to enter upon the work of the farm," and provided federal funds for this purpose...
. His mission in life was to help improve the education of American children.
Biography
Charles Allen Prosser was born the son of a steel worker on September 20, 1871 in New Albany, IndianaNew Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
.
He attended DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
in 1897 and 1906, where he received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degrees. He also attended the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
where he received a L.L.B. degree. His Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
was from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. Prosser also received many honorary degrees from several other universities in the United States.
Charles Allen Prosser taught physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at the old New Albany High School
New Albany High School (Indiana)
Founded in 1853, New Albany High School is one of the oldest public high schools west of the Alleghenies and the first in Indiana. New Albany High School has the first rastafarian-run FM radio station to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and has had their own cable TV channel ...
. He later served as Superintendent of the local school district from 1900 until 1908. During this time he improved the old instruction system by streamlining many regular activities, he upgraded the required teacher qualifications, under his administration he built the then new high school located at E. 6th and Spring Streets, he assisted the city in obtaining the present library, and also instituted the city's first Night School
Night School
Night School is a school that holds classes in the evening or at night, and is usually intended for continuing and adult learning and to accommodate people who work during the day.Night School may also refer to:...
Program. Prosser was president of the Indiana Teachers Association for several years while living in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
For several years Prosser also served as a Juvenile Judge in Floyd County
Floyd County, Indiana
Floyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 74,578. The county seat is New Albany. Floyd County is the county with the second smallest land area in the entire state...
adjudicating cases involving minors and juvenile delinquents. This helped Prosser form his opinions on the needs of youth.
While superintendent, Prosser met many boys who were most interested in working with their hands to make things and only wanted to learn a trade. Prosser began to think that schools should help train boys for trades with the help of a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
. He would not return to the superintendency at New Albany.
Dr. Prosser later began to work with other organizations including employment as the superintendent of the Children's Aid Society in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where evening industrial instruction classes were offered to the public. He later became Deputy Commissioner of Industrial Education for Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
from 1910-1912, and then Secretary of the National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education again in New York City from 1912-1915.
While Prosser was Secretary of the National Society, he traveled widely forming and enthusing many individuals and groups. Prosser suggested programs and standards that helped to pass legislation that showed the entire Nation the possibilities of public vocational education. He also served as the first executive director of the Federal Board for Vocational Education from 1917–1919. Prosser also reported to congress numerous times with his mentor David Snedden. On February 23, 1917, President Wilson signed the Smith-Hughes Act into law, and federal funding for vocational education was established.
Prosser finally moved to Minneapolis, where from 1915-1945 he headed the pioneering Dunwoody Industrial Institute, where many of today's vocational training concepts were created.
Prosser died in 1952.
Prosser's impact on vocational education
Prosser was instrumental in the writing and passage of the Smith-Hughes ActSmith-Hughes Act
The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act of 1917 was an act of the United States Congress that promoted vocational agriculture to train people "who have entered upon or who are preparing to enter upon the work of the farm," and provided federal funds for this purpose...
that began federal spending for vocational education.
Prosser believed that schools should help students "to get a job, to hold it, and to advance to a better one." He was critical of schools of the era because they focused more on scholarly works and college preparations rather than a focus on helping the students in getting real-world jobs and keeping them. Prosser believed that knowledge could not be easily transferred from one field of learning to another, instead he believed in order to be effective that learning had to be specific and directed to immediate ends. Attendees at Prosser's colleges included Georg Kerschensteiner
Georg Kerschensteiner
Georg Michael Kerschensteiner was a German professor and educational theorist. He was director of public schools in Munich from 1895 to 1919 and became a professor at the University of Munich in 1920...
. Prosser believed that there should be public vocational schools as an alternative to high schools, which would offer courses for each occupation available.
It was Prosser's work in Minneapolis that set the standards for modern Vocational Education. Dr. Prosser was also an author of many textbooks on Vocational Education, many of which are still used in vocational schools today. He would often collaborate with distinguished writers for bulletins and magazine articles around the nation.
Prosser wanted to get a vocational education program in high schools because he believed everyone could benefit from vocational classes not just people going into vocational careers. He believed that vocational classes in high schools would make the students more independent. This was brought to his attention when he was working with some teenagers who had some behavioral problems. He found out that this boys loved to do things with their hands and that is what was continuously getting them in trouble. He then looked into getting vocational classes in high schools and realized that these classes would benefit all teenagers in their education development.
Schools
Prosser Career AcademyProsser Career Academy
Prosser Career Academy is a public vocational high school located in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It was opened in September 1959 for males only, adding females decades later. Prior to the summer of 1998 the school's name was Prosser Vocational High School...
located in Chicago, IL is named after Charles Allen Prosser. It is a Chicago Public School (High School)
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools, commonly abbreviated as CPS by local residents and politicians and officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, is a large school district that manages over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois...
previously known as Prosser Vocational High School. The school offers a college prep International Baccalaureate program to a select few students. Charles Allen Prosser School of Technology
Charles Allen Prosser School of Technology
Charles Allen Prosser School of Technology is a vocational school in New Albany, Indiana. The school was named in honor of New Albany native Charles Allen Prosser, the "Father of Vocational Education" in the United States.-Courses:...
located in New Albany, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
, Prosser's hometown, is named in his honor.
External links
- http://www.prossertech.org/history/history.shtml Prosser School of Technology website
- http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/aee501/quad.html The Education Quadrumvirate
- Prosser, C. A. (1903, February). Needed re-adjustment of our school system, The Educator-Journal, 235-249