A History of Indiana State University: From Normal School to Teachers College, 1865-1933

In 1865, Indiana State University began as a normal school to train teachers. By 1933, it had become Teachers College and offered graduate-level education. Dan Clark's book explores how the school transformed against the backdrop of public education expansion and higher education in the US. It highlights the underappreciated impact of normal schools in providing educational opportunities to less privileged students.

Format: Hardback
Length: 380 pages
Publication date: 04 October 2022
Publisher: Indiana University Press

In 1865, Indiana State University commenced its academic journey, akin to many other future regional state universities, as a normal school, dedicated to the training of teachers. Typically, these programs lasted one or two years. By 1933, Indiana State had earned the prestigious title of Teachers College and had expanded its offerings to include graduate-level education.

In his comprehensive work, A History of Indiana State University, Dan Clark delves into the historical evolution of Indiana State against the backdrop of the remarkable expansion of public education and the broadening scope of higher education in the United States during this transformative era.

Clark begins by tracing the origins of the normal school, recognizing the crucial need for professional teachers to contribute to the development of Indiana's educational infrastructure. He explores how the faculty and students at Indiana State worked tirelessly to align the school with increasingly popular traditional collegiate ideals, broadening their curriculum and fostering a vibrant student extracurricular life, including athletics and Greek life. By the 1920s, Indiana State had undergone a remarkable transformation, emerging as a teachers college.

A History of Indiana State University serves as an invaluable resource for understanding the rich history of this cherished Indiana institution. It sheds light on the underappreciated role that normal schools played in providing educational opportunities to aspiring students from less privileged backgrounds. This book offers a deep dive into the historical trajectory of Indiana State, highlighting its evolution from a normal school to a renowned Teachers College, and its enduring impact on the lives of countless individuals.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253061713