Pratt Institute - Prattonia Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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InPratt’s firstcatalogue, Charles Pratt, Pratt’s founder, stated: “The twofold aim of the Institute is based on an appreciation of the dignity as well as the value of intelligent handi- craft and skilled manual labor. It en- deavors to give opportunities for complete and harmonious education, seeking at the same time to establish a system of instruction whereby habits of thrift may be inculcated to develop those qualities which produce a spirit of self-reliance, and to teach that per- sonal character is of greater conse- quence than material productions. “It offers its advantages to those only who purpose to do their own part ear- nestly and well. Its aim is to aid those who are willing to aid themselves. Its classes, workshops, library, reading- room and museum are for this purpose, and while tuition is required, yet it will be the endeavor to make possible by some means consistent with self-help- fulness and self-respect the admission of every worthy applicant” Leather tanning and foundry opera- tion are now alive only in the archives and in the memories of a select few, but has Pratt itself really changed? Richardson Pratt, Jr. must rule without the autocratic privileges enjoyed by his great-grandfather, but he still has the same responsibility. People are still the same: their bodies are clothed in different dress, but their thoughts and ideals are much the same. Throughout the years Pratt's reputa- tion has been consistently excellent, but has the promise of the best possible education been kept? And if not, where does the fault lie? Jerry Pratt sees the problems of the central city as the main problems to be solved today and in the near future. He wants Pratt to train not technicians, but professionals with a broadly based professional education with the hu- manities to provide total mental devel- opment, who will be able to do the whole concept behind a thing and who will be able to apply their skills to the problems of the central cities’ So this is where the future supposedly lies. We have another Pratt as president. Where does the cyclic spiral go now?