Dr. Howard Decker, Industrial Art Trainer, worked for two years, 1978-79, with the Peace Corps in Brazil as a consultant at the Escola Technica in Salvador, Brazil
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Howard Decker
Dr. Howard Decker was a man who trained industrial arts teachers across the span of two continents. Teachers from the Appalachian Mountains to the tropical rainforests of South America were trained and nurtured by Dr. Decker's devotion to industrial arts education.
Howard Seeley Decker was born on January 31, 1923 at West Town, New York. He served in World War II as a squadron navigator in the United States Army Air Corps in the European Theater. Howard Decker was discharged as a Captain and placed in reserve status in 1945. He went to the State University of New York's Oswego (SUNY) campus in the spring of 1946 to study to become a teacher. It was here at a dance honoring returning veterans he met his future wife Arlene Barker. Howard and Arlene were married on their college graduation day, June 14, 1948. Howard earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees from SUNY in 1948 and 1951 respectively. During this time period, he was teaching industrial arts at Sherwood Central School in Aurora, New York.
From 1951-1952 Howard Decker taught in the Fine and Industrial Arts Department at Teachers College, Columbia, in New York, New York. He completed his Masters of Arts degree in 1952 from Teachers College. In 1953, Howard achieved his doctoral degree from Teachers College. Dr. Decker then began a long and interesting career as a university professor, administrator, and humanitarian. In 1953, Dr. Decker became Assistant Professor at the West Virginia Institute of Technology in Montgomery, West Virginia. From 1955 to 1959, he served as Director of the Division of Arts and Sciences and as Department Head for Industrial Arts at West Virginia Institute of Technology. Dr. Decker then moved on to be the Head of the Industrial Arts Department at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina from 1959 to 1962. In 1962, Dr. Decker worked as the Industrial Education Consultant for the United States State Department Agency for International Development in Brazil, South America.
In 1964, Dr. Decker returned to Appalachian State to serve as Industrial Arts Department Head and Coordinator for the College Building Program. He stayed there until 1966. From 1966 through 1969, Dr. Decker served as Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the American Industrial Arts Association in Washington, D.C. In 1969, Dr. Decker moved West. He moved to San Jose State University to become a professor and Chairman of the Department of Industrial Studies. Dr. Decker worked at San Jose State in these and other related positions until his death in July of 1982.
Dr. Howard Decker's career as an educator is an example for aspiring young educators and experienced educators alike to emulate. Throughout his various writings in journals and his involvement in the political arena Dr. Decker always seemed to work toward bringing industrial arts education to all students. One of his articles was written specifically to try to help teachers in the lab setting motivate and involve underachievers. This genuine concern and outreach for underachievers exemplified Dr. Decker's commitment to education in general, as well as his dedication to the industrial arts field. Dr. Decker was also involved in national leadership of the American Industrial Arts Association (AIAA). This involvement included working to increase funding for industrial arts programs. He accomplished this feat through direct involvement with Senators who led the legislation for the funding of industrial arts programs in the National Defense Education Act of 1966. Training and educating local teachers and administrators how to obtain these monies was also a priority for Dr. Decker. In an article entitled "Upholding Our Part of the Bargain" Dr. Decker urged classroom teachers to maintain their dedication and commitment to educating all young people and keeping professionalism foremost when dealing with administrators and the public. This example is still timely and one that should be followed even today.
During his time at the various universities and with the AIAA, Dr. Decker was a teacher educator who worked to train and educate industrial arts teachers for jobs in American schools. However, his influence did not stop within the United States. In 1964, Dr. Decker traveled to Brazil, South America, to work as an Industrial Education Consultant for the United States Agency for International Development. Dr. Decker's insight and teaching skills were used to further industrial education where technology was far less advanced. Several years later, in 1975, Dr. Decker returned to South and Central America to meet with the Ministers of Education of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Equador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. This trip was made to determine the parameters of industrial-vocational education in these countries. Dr. Decker also worked for two years, 1978-79, with the Peace Corps in Brazil as a consultant at the Escola Technica in Salvador, Brazil. This humanitarian spirit and commitment to educating all people is a quality that all teachers should possess.
While some men may have had a greater impact on how industrial arts was taught, or how it has evolved into technology education, Dr. Howard Decker was a person who dedicated himself to not only the people who worked in the field, but to the average student in the classroom as well. Through his involvement in teacher education programs at five universities, his work at the national level here in the United States, and his continuing outreach to less developed countries, Dr. Howard Decker always made the effort to make education available to everyone.
EDUCATION
B.S. State University of New York 1948 Oswego, New York
M.S. State University of New York 1951 Oswego, New York
M.A. Teachers College, Columbia 1952 New York, New York
Ed.D. Teachers College, Columbia 1953 New York, New York
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Industrial Arts Teacher 1948-1950 Sherwood Central School Aurora, New York
Instructor 1951-1952 Fine and Industrial Arts Department Teachers College, Columbia New York, New York
Assistant Professor 1953-1954 West Virginia Institute of Technology Montgomery, West Virginia
Director, Division of Arts and Sciences and 1955-1959 Head, Department of Industrial Arts Montgomery, West Virginia
Professor and Head, Industrial Arts Department 1959-1962 Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina
Industrial Education Consultant 1962-1964 State Department, U.S. AID Brazil, South America
Professor and Head, Industrial Arts Department 1964-1966 Interim Head, Art Department and Coordinator College Building Program Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina
Professor and Chairman 1969- Department of Industrial Studies San Jose University San Jose, California
AWARDS , RECOGNITION, AND ACTIVITIES
1968 Laureate Citation, Epsilon Pi Tau
1968 Man of the Year Award Outstanding Service to Industrial Arts Education Educational Exhibitors Association
1975-76 Sabbatical Leave - visited ministries of education in 11 Central and Latin American countries.
1978-79 University Leave - served in Peace Corps as consultant to the Administration of Federal Technical School in Salvador, Brazil. Duties consisted of studies in space utilization and curriculum, and research of the regional labor market.
1980-81 Academic Senator for Academic Senate - San Jose State Univ.
DR. HOWARD S. DECKER
Personal Information:
Born: January 31, 1923 at West Town, New York
Died: July 12, 1982; Buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Married to Arlene Barker on June 14, 1948; two sons and one daughter
Served in World War II as squadron navigator in the US Army Air Corps in the European Theater. Left service in 1945 as Captain and entered reserve category.
Spoke three foreign languages: Portuguese, Spanish, and French.
Hobbies included spelunking, deer hunting, dancing, and rock hunting.
POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP
Chairman, Varsity Athletics Committee, West Virginia Institute of Technology 1957-1959
Chairman, Grievance Committee (elective office) West Virginia Institute of Technology 1958
Vice President and member of board of Directors, Boone, North Carolina Rotary Club 1965 and 1966
Director, NDEA Title XI Institute, USOE, National Exemplary Institute, with Regional Institutes in Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Tulsa, Chicago and New York City 1967
Director, The Washington Symposium, International U.S. Office of Education and Industry Sponsored Conference
Produce, six 1/2-hour professional films in color 1968
Co-Director, NDEA Title XI Institute, USOE, Leadership Training for Supervisors of Industrial Arts 1968
Convention Program Coordinator and Member Board of Directors, American Industrial Arts Association 1969
Chairman, Accreditation committee, American Industrial Arts Association 1969-1972
Director, NDEA Title XI Institute, Leadership Training for State Association 1969
Chairman, advisory Panel to the State Commission on Teacher Preparation and Licensing 1971
President, California council of industrial teacher Educators 1972
General Chairman, California Industrial Education Association convention San Francisco, March 1975; 1974-75
COURSES TAUGHT
Teachers College, Columbia University General shop, woodworking, mechanical drawing
West Virginia Institute of Technology General metals, sheet metal, hand woodworking, machine woodworking, graphic arts, art metal, jewelry, materials and methods of industrial arts, organization and administration of industrial arts, supervision of student teaching, industrial history, human development (basic psychology)
Appalachian State University Engineering drawing, architectural drawing, technical illustration, industrial design, engineering materials, geology, American history, philosophy of industrial education
San Jose State University Engineering drawing, architectural drawing, philosophy of industrial education graduate seminar, methods of teaching industrial subjects, jewelry and lapidary, planning school facilities and technology and civilization.
PROFESSIONAL WRITINGS AND PUBLICATIONS
Chapter on Community and Professional Relations, Readings in Education, McKnight & McKnight, 1957
Research Paper - The Faculty Publication, Appalachian State University, 1960.
Chapter 7, Curriculum Handbook for School Administrators, AASA, Washington, D.C.
Numerous Journal Articles to include:
Journal of West Virginia Industrial Arts Association; The Industrial Arts Teacher, Man, Society, and Technology, Journal of Industrial Arts Education, AVA Journal, Safety Education, Bulletin of the National Association of School Principals, and the CITEA Journal .
Information Provided by: Michael E. Goodson - March 19, 2001
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Arlene Decker (personal communication, March 17, 2001)
Decker, Howard (1971) . Industrial Arts and the Youth Rebellion. American Vocational Journal, 46, 23, 44.
Decker, Howard (1969). Upholding Our Part of the Bargain. Journal of Industrial Arts Education, 28, 18-21.
Decker, H., (1968, July). Federal Funds for Industrial Arts. Symposium conducted at six California colleges.