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From Normal School to College- and From Normal School to College- and University-based Teacher TrainingUniversity-based Teacher Training

Fall, 2006Fall, 2006

EDCI658EDCI658

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What Is A Normal School?What Is A Normal School? A normal school or teachers college is an A normal school or teachers college is an

educational institution for training teachers.educational institution for training teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards Its purpose is to establish teaching standards

or or normsnorms, hence its name. The term , hence its name. The term normal normal schoolschool is now archaic in all but a few countries. is now archaic in all but a few countries. In New Zealand, for example, normal schools In New Zealand, for example, normal schools are affiliated with Teachers colleges. are affiliated with Teachers colleges.

According to the According to the Oxford English Dictionary,Oxford English Dictionary, normal schools in the United States and normal schools in the United States and Canada trained primary school teachers, while Canada trained primary school teachers, while in Europe, normal schools educated primary, in Europe, normal schools educated primary, secondary and tertiary-level teachers.secondary and tertiary-level teachers.

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Terminology of Normal SchoolTerminology of Normal School The term The term normal schoolnormal school originated in the early originated in the early

1919thth century from the France. Because the century from the France. Because the graduates of these schools, that is, the teachers, graduates of these schools, that is, the teachers, were expected to uphold and teach norms, or were expected to uphold and teach norms, or rules, they were called normal schools.rules, they were called normal schools.

The terminology is preserved in the official The terminology is preserved in the official translations of such schools in People's Republic translations of such schools in People's Republic of China since the early 20th century. A Chinese of China since the early 20th century. A Chinese normal university is usually controlled by the normal university is usually controlled by the national or provincial government. A teacher’s national or provincial government. A teacher’s college has lower entrance requirements. college has lower entrance requirements.

The terminology is also preserved in Europe The terminology is also preserved in Europe even if some of the original normal schools do even if some of the original normal schools do not serve the purpose of teacher education not serve the purpose of teacher education anymore.anymore.

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Origin of Normal SchoolOrigin of Normal School

Specific training for teachers was originated in Specific training for teachers was originated in France (1685) by St. John Baptist de la Salle. France (1685) by St. John Baptist de la Salle. Teacher training spread rapidly in Europe as a Teacher training spread rapidly in Europe as a result of the work of August Hermann Francke result of the work of August Hermann Francke and Johann Pestalozzi and through the influence and Johann Pestalozzi and through the influence of the monitorial system. of the monitorial system.

Germany established the first curriculum for Germany established the first curriculum for teacher training in the 18th cent. From Europe teacher training in the 18th cent. From Europe the monitorial training method spread to the the monitorial training method spread to the United States United States

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Normal Schools in the United StatesNormal Schools in the United States The first normal schools in the United States The first normal schools in the United States

were founded in Massachusetts beginning in the were founded in Massachusetts beginning in the late 1830s, thanks largely to the efforts of late 1830s, thanks largely to the efforts of education reformers such as Horace Mann and education reformers such as Horace Mann and Henry Barnard. Henry Barnard.

In 1839, a school known simply as In 1839, a school known simply as Normal Normal SchoolSchool, the first of its kind in the United States, , the first of its kind in the United States, opened in Lexington, Massachusetts; it has opened in Lexington, Massachusetts; it has since moved and is now known as Framingham since moved and is now known as Framingham State College. State College.

Influenced by similar academies in Prussia and Influenced by similar academies in Prussia and elsewhere in Europe, they were intended to elsewhere in Europe, they were intended to improve the quality of the burgeoning common improve the quality of the burgeoning common school system by producing more qualified school system by producing more qualified teachers.teachers.

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Early Normal Schools in the United StatesEarly Normal Schools in the United States First normal school west of the Appalachian First normal school west of the Appalachian

Mountains in the United States: the Michigan State Mountains in the United States: the Michigan State Normal School, now Eastern Michigan University. It Normal School, now Eastern Michigan University. It was created by legislative action in 1849 and was created by legislative action in 1849 and opened in 1853.opened in 1853.

Oldest normal school west of Mississippi River was Oldest normal school west of Mississippi River was Harries-Stowe State University founded by the St. Harries-Stowe State University founded by the St. Louis public school system in 1857Louis public school system in 1857

The first The first state-authorizedstate-authorized normal college to open normal college to open west of the Mississippi River was Winona State west of the Mississippi River was Winona State Normal School, now called Winona State University. Normal School, now called Winona State University. Opening in 1858.Opening in 1858.

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Early Normal Schools in the Early Normal Schools in the United States Cont.United States Cont.

The first normal school in what is now The first normal school in what is now considered the Southwest was opened in 1879 considered the Southwest was opened in 1879 as Sam Houston Normal Institute (now Sam as Sam Houston Normal Institute (now Sam Houston State University) Houston State University)

The first state-run normal school on the West The first state-run normal school on the West Coast was the Minns' Evening Normal School, Coast was the Minns' Evening Normal School, created in 1857 to train teachers for San created in 1857 to train teachers for San Francisco's schools. It was taken over by the Francisco's schools. It was taken over by the State of California in 1862 and became the State of California in 1862 and became the California State Normal School (now San Jose California State Normal School (now San Jose State University). State University).

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The TransitionThe Transition In the United States, the function of normal In the United States, the function of normal

school has been taken up by undergraduate and school has been taken up by undergraduate and graduate schools of education; the schools graduate schools of education; the schools themselves were upgraded to universities themselves were upgraded to universities focused on meeting the needs of the region in focused on meeting the needs of the region in which they were located. which they were located.

Many famous universities, such as the University Many famous universities, such as the University of California, Los Angeles were founded as of California, Los Angeles were founded as normal schools. In Canada, such institutions are normal schools. In Canada, such institutions are typically part of a university as the Faculty of typically part of a university as the Faculty of Education offering a one- or two-year Bachelor Education offering a one- or two-year Bachelor of Education program. It requires at least three of Education program. It requires at least three (usually four) years of prior undergraduate (usually four) years of prior undergraduate studies.studies.

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The Transition Cont.The Transition Cont. The sole purpose of normal schools was The sole purpose of normal schools was

professional instruction of elementary-school professional instruction of elementary-school teachers, an especially strong emphasis was teachers, an especially strong emphasis was placed on the psychology of child development. placed on the psychology of child development.

Preparation for secondary-school teaching, Preparation for secondary-school teaching, which demanded a larger academic component, which demanded a larger academic component, was still left to liberal arts colleges. was still left to liberal arts colleges.

Nevertheless, by the turn of the century many Nevertheless, by the turn of the century many normal schools had expanded into four-year normal schools had expanded into four-year degree-granting teachers colleges, and by the degree-granting teachers colleges, and by the 1920s and 30s these teachers colleges, 1920s and 30s these teachers colleges, generally supported by the public, were training generally supported by the public, were training substantial numbers of the nation’s public-school substantial numbers of the nation’s public-school teachers.teachers.      

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Transition Cont.Transition Cont. Training for secondary-school teachers remained primarily a Training for secondary-school teachers remained primarily a

function of liberal-arts colleges until after World War II.function of liberal-arts colleges until after World War II. The growing numbers of students and the growing need for The growing numbers of students and the growing need for

technical skills in the nation’s workforce led to a demand for technical skills in the nation’s workforce led to a demand for secondary education that traditional colleges could not meet. secondary education that traditional colleges could not meet.

Since 1945, consequently, most teachers colleges have Since 1945, consequently, most teachers colleges have expanded their educational missions and become liberal-arts expanded their educational missions and become liberal-arts colleges offering a broad general education in addition to colleges offering a broad general education in addition to specialized courses in pedagogy. specialized courses in pedagogy.

In the United States, the first graduate program in education In the United States, the first graduate program in education was established at New York Univ. (1887). In the following was established at New York Univ. (1887). In the following year the teacher-training school that is presently known as year the teacher-training school that is presently known as Teachers College, Columbia Univ., was founded. Since the Teachers College, Columbia Univ., was founded. Since the establishment of those two institutions, graduate study in establishment of those two institutions, graduate study in education has expanded rapidly. education has expanded rapidly.

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The Contribution of Normal SchoolsThe Contribution of Normal Schools

Established teaching as a professionEstablished teaching as a professionProvide women with opportunities to Provide women with opportunities to

continue their education and to advance in continue their education and to advance in public careerpublic career

Met the demand of economic and social Met the demand of economic and social changes such as the common school changes such as the common school movement, industrialization, democratic movement, industrialization, democratic citizenshipcitizenship

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SourcesSources

http://www.bartleby.com/65/te/teachert.htmlhttp://www.bartleby.com/65/te/teachert.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_school http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/normal.htmlhttp://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/normal.html http://www.primaryresearch.org/PRTHB/schoolhishttp://www.primaryresearch.org/PRTHB/schoolhis

tory/synenki.pdftory/synenki.pdf http://escholarship.bc.edu/dissertations/AAI92174http://escholarship.bc.edu/dissertations/AAI92174

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