Hockett, John A. (John Alpheus), 1894-

Hockett was born in 1894 in IL; came to CA, and taught high school mathematics in Manteca; received doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia Univ.; began teaching in the Dept. of Education at UC Berkeley in 1928; came to UCLA in 1941 as director of elementary education; worked to establish a democratic educational system in West Germany after World War II; served as a member of the California State Curriculum Commission; also served with the State Commission on School Districts, established by the California legislature in 1945; the Commission was directed to carry on a study of the state through local survey committees, working with regional commissions; it was charged to consider recommendations by local committees for reorganization and to direct the calling of local reorganization elections; from 1947-49 the Commission approved 58 recommendations for local reorganization; it sought to establish a strong, locally controlled school district structure; it issued its findings and recommendations in 1949; Hockett also published his own studies, including Modern practices in the elementary school (c1938); retired in 1960; he died on Nov. 6, 1988 in San Diego.

From the description of Papers regarding the California State Commission on School Districts, 1945-1949. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 39744977

Biography

Hockett was born in 1894 in Illinois; came to California, and taught high school mathematics in Manteca; received doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University; began teaching in the Department of Education at UC Berkeley in 1928; came to UCLA in 1941 as director of elementary education; worked to establish a democratic educational system in West Germany after World War II; served as a member of the California State Curriculum Commission; also served with the State Commission on School Districts, established by the California legislature in 1945; the Commission was directed to carry on a study of the state through local survey committees, working with regional commissions; it was charged to consider recommendations by local committees for reorganization and to direct the calling of local reorganization elections; from 1947-49 the Commission approved 58 recommendations for local reorganization; it sought to establish a strong, locally controlled school district structure; it issued its findings and recommendations in 1949; Hockett also published his own studies, including Modern practices in the elementary school (c1938); retired in 1960; he died on November 6, 1988 in San Diego.

From the guide to the John Alpheus Hockett Papers Regarding the California State Commission on School Districts, 1945-1949, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)