The High School as The Nucleus
High School Class Photo, n.d (c.1892 - 1902)
Source: Pratt Digital Archivethe high school in the tentative plan
When Charles Pratt formulated the tentative plan for Pratt Institute, he wanted to develop a Secondary School, one that would allow for the education of students in two phases - one that began from 11-13, and another from 17-19. He recognized that subjects like the ones he wanted to teach at Pratt Institute would prove a difficult transition from classical education; children taught in the nucleus of the institute would be better able to adapt to the manual training subjects taught here.
Charles Pratt's conceptual drawing of system of buildings of Pratt Institute
Source: Pratt Institute Archive
adelphi academy as the nucleus, c. 1893 - 1894
Source: Pratt Digital ArchiveCharles Pratt had indicated early on that the Adelphi Academy was to be the principal building for the System of Secondary Education. He wanted to begin training potential students since they were eligible for secondary education. His conceptual plans envisioned incorporating Adelphi Academy's elite with Brooklyn's working class, such that he could practically see the rich and poor alike benefit from his educational system.
students and teachers of the pratt high school, c. 1889
Source: Pratt Digital ArchiveThe students who joined The High School, were primarily from Brooklyn. The teachers were often graduates from the Institute, establishing a network of instruction within the Institute that equipped the students to be thoroughly trained in their respective departments.
the south hall, 1890
Source: Pratt Digital ArchiveThe High School, although always an important nucleus of his early plans, was not built until 1889. It was built next to the Main Hall of the Institute, in a building that was called the South Hall. Although in his conceptual plans, Pratt had envisioned Adelphi as the high school, the practicality of it turned out to be difficult to work out and the Adelphi Academy was eventually established as an independent institution, whose Principal Chair was Charles Pratt.
classes held at high school, 1890
Source: Pratt Digital ArchiveThe High School had classes similar to the Institute - manual training classes (like the one shown above), technical drawing classes and fine arts classes. Apart from these, the high school also held regular history and literature classes . The history classes involved map drawing as a daily classroom exercise. The Pratt Institute Daily Newspaper was also published by the High School students.
The High School Building also housed a kindergarten on the third floor.