Charles A. Prosser facts for kids

Charles Allen Prosser (born 1871, died 1952) was a very important person in shaping how young people learn job skills in the United States. He is often called the "Father of Vocational Education" in America. He also helped create the 1917 Smith-Hughes Act, which brought federal money to schools for vocational training. His main goal was to make education better for all American children.

Biography of Charles Allen Prosser

Charles Allen Prosser was born on September 20, 1871, in New Albany, Indiana. His father worked in a steel factory.

He went to DePauw University and earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees. He also studied at the University of Louisville and Columbia University, where he earned his Ph.D. He received many other special degrees from universities across the U.S.

Prosser taught physics and history at New Albany High School. From 1900 to 1908, he was the Superintendent of Schools in New Albany. During this time, he made many improvements. He made teaching standards higher and helped build a new high school. He also helped the city get its first public library and started the city's first night school program. Prosser was also president of the Indiana Teachers Association for several years.

For some years, Prosser also worked as a judge for young people in Floyd County. This work helped him understand what young people needed from their education.

While he was superintendent, Prosser met many boys who loved to work with their hands. They wanted to learn a trade or a specific job skill. This made Prosser think that schools should help train students for these kinds of jobs.

Later, Dr. Prosser worked with other groups. He was superintendent of the Children's Aid Society in New York City. This group offered evening classes where people could learn industrial skills. From 1910 to 1912, he was a Deputy Commissioner for Industrial Education in Massachusetts. Then, from 1912 to 1915, he was Secretary of the National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education in New York City.

As Secretary of the National Society, Prosser traveled a lot. He inspired many people and groups to support vocational education. He suggested programs and standards that helped pass laws. These laws showed the whole country what public vocational education could do. He also led the Federal Board for Vocational Education from 1917 to 1919. On February 23, 1917, President Wilson signed the Smith-Hughes Act into law. This law provided money from the government for vocational education.

Prosser moved to Minneapolis in 1915. There, he led the Dunwoody Industrial Institute (now Dunwoody College of Technology) until 1945. Many of the ideas for vocational training we use today were developed at Dunwoody.

Prosser passed away in 1952.

Prosser's Impact on Vocational Education

Prosser was key in writing and passing the Smith-Hughes Act. This law started federal funding for vocational education across the country.

Prosser believed that schools should help students "to get a job, to hold it, and to advance to a better one." He thought that schools at the time focused too much on college preparation. He felt they did not focus enough on helping students get and keep real-world jobs. Prosser believed that learning had to be specific to be useful for a job. He thought there should be public vocational schools. These schools would offer courses for many different jobs.

Prosser's work in Minneapolis helped set the standards for modern vocational education. Dr. Prosser also wrote many textbooks on vocational education. Some of these books are still used today. He often worked with other writers on articles for magazines and bulletins.

Prosser wanted vocational education programs in high schools. He believed that all students could benefit from these classes, not just those going into specific trades. He thought vocational classes would help teenagers become more independent. He noticed this when working with some teenagers who had behavioral problems. He found that these boys loved to work with their hands. He realized that vocational classes could help all teenagers in their learning and development.

Schools Named After Prosser

Prosser Career Academy in Chicago, Illinois, is named after Charles Allen Prosser. It is a Chicago Public High School. It used to be called Prosser Vocational High School. The school offers a college prep program to some students. The Charles Allen Prosser School of Technology is in Prosser's hometown of New Albany, Indiana. It is also named in his honor.