Snedden’s Research On Social Efficiency Of Vocational Education

At the beginning of the 20 th century, David Snedden put forward the concept of social efficiency of vocational education. He advocates setting up general education which distincts from vocational education system, providing specific vocational training for the children of particular class in order to meet the needs of American society for technical talents.After the civil war, the US bourgeois boarded the political arena, accessing to the dominance of the country, which effectively promoted the rapid development of industry and commerce in the United States. By the end of the 19 th century, the United States had completed the modern industrialization, becoming the richest country in the world. Secondary school education, however, did not get rid of the traditional European schools, its purpose is to make students prepare for the further studies, making it difficult to adapt to the American society at the time when its society demanded for labor that had a certain knowledge and and proficiency of skills. Because of dissatisfaction with present situation of education, educators had called for education reform. David Snedden is one of the representative figures. Social efficiency of vocational education idea which is strongly opposed by John Dewey and other scholars and community groups. However, with the US industrialization, urbanization, especially the social efficiency and scientific management principles thriving, adding general education in vocational education functions or creating a separate vocational education institutions in addition to general education was undoubtedly become the first choice for many organizations. driven by Snedden and his student prosser, social efficiency of vocational education led to the act of“Smith一Hughes Act”,which affects the development of education in the United States more than half a century on the direction and path.Research on Snedden social efficiency of vocational education and its influence in the early 20 th century. we can gain valuable experience for our country’s vocational education.