Edward W. Bok Technical High School
Encyclopedia
The Edward W. Bok Technical High School is a high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, designed by Irwin Catharine and named after Edward William Bok
. It was completed in February 1938 by the Public Works Administration
(WPA) as a vocational
high school at 8th & Mifflin Streets. As part of the Philadelphia Public Schools Multiple Property Submission, the school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in December, 1986. Bok High School was reorganized in 2006-2007 to prepare students for jobs in modern technology.
design. Carved cartouches show people at work. Classrooms adjoin one of two central light courts. At the time of its construction, the building represented a new trend in vocational education. Rather than just teach carpentry skills, the school taught, and had dedicated space for, subjects such as brick laying, plastering, plumbing, machine building, tailoring, and hairdressing.
The school was named for Edward Bok (1863–1930), a Dutch born American editor and Pulitzer Prize
-winning author, who edited the Ladies Home Journal for thirty years.
Computer Assisted Design (CAD), Construction Trades,Culinary Arts, Computer/Networking, Health Related Sciences, and Process Technology.
Bok offers men's and women's interscholastic sports including: football, baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, track and field, volleyball, badminton, cheerleading, drill, team, and weight training. After School Clubs provide special enrichment activities for students. Bok is the only community high school in the city housing programs such as Beacon, Sunrise Inc, and Truancy Court.
(AYP) for 5 years straight.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, designed by Irwin Catharine and named after Edward William Bok
Edward W. Bok
Edward William Bok was a Dutch born American editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. He was editor of the Ladies Home Journal for thirty years...
. It was completed in February 1938 by the Public Works Administration
Public Works Administration
The Public Works Administration , part of the New Deal of 1933, was a large-scale public works construction agency in the United States headed by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes. It was created by the National Industrial Recovery Act in June 1933 in response to the Great Depression...
(WPA) as a vocational
Vocational school
A vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
high school at 8th & Mifflin Streets. As part of the Philadelphia Public Schools Multiple Property Submission, the school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in December, 1986. Bok High School was reorganized in 2006-2007 to prepare students for jobs in modern technology.
History
The building was constructed from 1935-1938 based on the designs of Philadelphia School Board architect Irwin Catharine. The main body of the school is built of limestone-trimmed yellow brick, with a limestone low-rise section abutting the higher brick section. Piers and pillasters emphasize verticality in the Art DecoArt Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
design. Carved cartouches show people at work. Classrooms adjoin one of two central light courts. At the time of its construction, the building represented a new trend in vocational education. Rather than just teach carpentry skills, the school taught, and had dedicated space for, subjects such as brick laying, plastering, plumbing, machine building, tailoring, and hairdressing.
The school was named for Edward Bok (1863–1930), a Dutch born American editor and Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning author, who edited the Ladies Home Journal for thirty years.
Current programs
Programs are designed to develop students into well-rounded individuals. In addition to regular academic and vocational course offerings, there are specialized programs in Business TechnologyComputer Assisted Design (CAD), Construction Trades,Culinary Arts, Computer/Networking, Health Related Sciences, and Process Technology.
Bok offers men's and women's interscholastic sports including: football, baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, track and field, volleyball, badminton, cheerleading, drill, team, and weight training. After School Clubs provide special enrichment activities for students. Bok is the only community high school in the city housing programs such as Beacon, Sunrise Inc, and Truancy Court.
Recognition
As of 2010, Bok has achieved Adequate Yearly ProgressAdequate Yearly Progress
Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is a measurement defined by the United States federal No Child Left Behind Act that allows the U.S. Department of Education to determine how every public school and school district in the country is performing academically according to results on standardized...
(AYP) for 5 years straight.