This book traces the history and growth of vocational education (VE) in the United States. The following are among the topics discussed in the book's nine chapters: early beginnings of VE in the United States (European influence, apprenticeship, industrial revolution, manual training movement); leaders influencing vocational curriculum development (views of Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, David Snedden, Charles Prosser, John Dewey); impact of land-grant instruction on the professional growth of VE; selected factors that influenced VE development (war activities, study panels, American Vocational Association); legislative history and the changing work force; participation of women in VE (legislative breakthroughs, sex equity); participation of special needs populations in VE (ethnic groups and special education students in VE); vocational instructional programs and teacher preparation; and development of vocational student organizations. Concluding each chapter are discussion questions and a substantial reference list. Appended are the following: ordering information for VE videos; European-U.S. evolution of VE; quotations of Booker T. Washington; Prosser's 16 theorems; growth of VE preparation and retraining; fastest growing jobs for the 21st century; appropriations for VE for fiscal years 1952-1966; school-to-work opportunities and the Fair Labor Standards Act; and excerpt from Booker T. Washington's Atlanta Exposition Address. Contains 25 tables/figures. (MN)