Brooklyn Technical High School.
Brooklyn is filled with academic treasures. One major gem is Brooklyn Technical High School, currently a New York City Specialized Public High School. The building is over eight stories high and teaches thousands of students in the math and sciences as well as develop a strong artistic community. In this article, I will discuss the history, building and program of this Elite high school that was meant for engineering excellence.
Started as a technical school to develop engineers
One of the most unique buildings in the city
Impressive college-style program for years developing significant alumni
BTHS began as a technical school proposed by Dr. Albert Colston to the Brooklyn Engineer’s Club. In 1918, he presented an idea to create a premier school for Brooklyn boys that could lead its students into top technical colleges and careers in the post-World War I environment. He believed the workforce needed to be better trained in manual, technical professions. In 1922, the school was opened in Fort Greene neighborhood, and was quickly followed by success which meant plans for a greater building and program would soon develop [1]. The insignia would portray an alidade compass, and the Manhattan Bridge, instead of the Brooklyn Bridge, due to the school's location. Success was partly due to BTHS’ adoption of a hallmark college-style program: students would complete two years of general studies followed by two years of integrated specialized major studies with the access to labs and specialized tools. These majors included architecture, electrical and mechanical engineering, and has expanded to all types of sciences and arts since then [2].
The present building was constructed and an influx of students began attending the school by 1933. This was largely made possible by the leadership of Franklin D Roosevelt as governor of New York. After the crash of 1928 which led to the Great Depression, Roosevelt started the system that would later be the framework of the New Deal when he becomes President. He committed funds for public works, some of which indirectly would go toward the school [3]. By 1933, a new building would be constructed promoting a successful and essential education program, while creating infrastructure jobs [1].
The final product was an immense building with a swimming pool, a minor gym on the eighth floor, a major gym on the ground floor, a radio station with antenna, cafeteria on the seventh floor and one of the biggest auditoriums in the city. The ground floor has marble walls, artistic metal insignias in the floor and an impressive mural surrounding the entrance to the auditorium. The mural is called the "History of Mankind", painted by Russian artist, Maxwell Starr, in 1941. There are also specialized rooms or labs throughout the building to compliment classrooms for experiments and manual work. These would be especially useful during World War II, when adults could attend the school at night, acquire an impressive education and significantly support the military post-graduation. The school continued developing its program and began to accept girls during the civil rights movement in the early 1970s when the City acquired the school [1].
The school now boasts impressive learning statistics and offers millions in grants and scholarship to aid its students [1,4]. Brooklyn Tech continues to be a top school of rich history and alumni. It is practically an historical site, demonstrating the excellence of Brooklyn and its ability to develop communities that develop generations of great people.
By Nick Borak
Places to Visit
Brooklyn Technical High School - Fort Greene
This school boasts a building of epic proportions and abilities, and excellent artwork within.
Fort Greene Park - Fort Greene, Brooklyn
A park named after General Nathanael Greene, who erected Fort Putnam which protected General Washington as he retreated. There is a tall column monument at the peak of the hill, a playground and tennis courts.
Sources
[1] School History. Brooklyn Technical High School. NYC Department of Education. 18 April 2018.
https://bths.edu/school_history.jsp
[2] Brooklyn Technical High School. InsideSchools.org. The New School: Center for New York City Affairs. 18 April 2018.
https://insideschools.org/school/13K430
[3] FDR Governor of New York. HistoryCentral. 18 April 2018.
http://www.historycentral.com/FDR/FDRGov.html
[4] Brooklyn Technical High School: Overview. US News & World Report: Education. 18 April 2018.
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