Walter Houston Clark
Walter Houston Clark (1878 to 1941) was an American psychologist, who had a great impact on the field of psychology. He studied the psychological effects of music, made important contributions to the field, and was an early advocate for the application of psychology in the classroom.
Walter Houston Clark was born on January 24, 1878, in Flint, Michigan, to William and Louvina Bell Clark. His mother, who was a schoolteacher, instilled in Clark a love of education which served him well throughout his life. In 1895, Clark graduated from Flint High School and shortly after that he moved to Toronto, Canada, where he attended the University of Toronto. Here, he studied psychology and philosophy, graduating in 1901 with a degree in philosophy and psychology. After graduation, Clark remained in Toronto, where he taught high school math and science.
After a few years of teaching, Clark moved back to the United States and attended the University of Michigan, where he studied under the renowned psychologist James McKeen Cattell and earned a masters degree in philosophy in 1905. After his studies at Michigan, Clark moved to Columbia University, where he obtained his doctorate in psychology and education in 1909. While studying at Columbia, Clark conducted research on the psychological effects of music, which had a great impact on his future work.
During his career, Clark taught at several universities, including the University of Michigan, the University of Iowa, and the University of Chicago. He served as director of the Psychological Laboratory at the University of Chicago and was an important contributor to the development of psychology courses at the university. In addition to teaching, Clark also wrote several books, including Education and Social Change in 1912 and Education as an Autonomous Discipline in 1921.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Clarks work shifted away from research and towards educational reform. He was an early advocate for the application of psychological principles in the schoolroom and wrote several books on this subject, including Education and Social Change in 1912 and Education as an Autonomous Discipline in 1921. Clark was a strong believer of the need for a comprehensive educational system and wanted to see psychological principles incorporated into the classroom. Many of his ideas, such as the separation of psychology from educational administration, have been put into practice in modern educational systems.
Clarks work in psychology and educational reform earned him numerous honors and awards, including an American Psychological Association award, the Margaret Floy Washburn Memorial Medal, the National Education Associations Medal of Merit, and the Stephen A. Goldmark Prize. Walter Houston Clark passed away on June 18, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois.
Today, Clark is remembered for his tremendous contributions to the fields of psychology and educational reform. His research into the psychological effects of music had a great influence on the field, and his advocacy of psychological principles in education had a lasting impact on the modern educational system. His efforts are a testament to his commitment to the advancement of psychology and education in the United States.
