Vocational Education of College Grade. Bulletin, 1946, No. 18

Overview & Synopsis

During the early part of the present century it became clear that in our efforts to emphasize general education we were neglecting vocational education. The agitation to correct that defect resulted in the passage of the Smith-Hughes law in 1917 and the development of an effective system of vocational education "of less than college grade" under the stimulus of Federal funds appropriated for the purpose. During the past two decades, institutions above the high school grade have felt the pressure to broaden their services to include vocational education for a wide variety of callings not adequately prepared for in the high school. Many educational as well as economic trends have been converging in such a way as to emphasize the very great importance of better systematizing the program of vocational education in post-high school institutions. This report deals with the rapidly developing area of vocational education, called vocational education of college grade. The area lies between the program of vocational education of less-than-college grade (that commonly done in technical high schools and trade schools) on the one hand, and professional education on the other. Part I, An Evolving Program of Vocational Education, covers: (1) Background and definitions; (2) Need for vocational education of college grade; (3) General nature and extent of educational programs; and (4) A look ahead. Part II, Representative Educational Programs, describes: (1) Technical institute and junior college vocational programs at the New York State Technical Institute, North Dakota State School of Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, Technical Institute of Purdue University, Tuskegee Institute, Maine Maritime Academy, Northeast Junior College of Louisiana State University, Los Angeles City College, and Stephens College; and (2) Terminal vocational programs in colleges and universities at Wayne University, University System of Georgia Center, Western Michigan College of Education, Cleveland College at Western Reserve University, Indiana University Extension Work, Pennsylvania State College Extension Program, University of Minnesota, and University of Nebraska. (Contains 29 footnotes and 21 tables.) [Staff members responsible for the publication include: Fred J. Kelly, Lloyd E. Blauch, Ralph C. M. Flynt, Ben W. Frazier, and Ernest V. Hollis. Best copy available has been provided.]