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Normal School Days

Students in dormitory room

Male students made up a small minority of teachers in training on campus during the Normal School era. Young men had opportunities to pursue other professions which paid better. Often those who did enroll, left to finish their studies elsewhere.

 

Overview

West Chester Normal School opened in 1871 and continued to function as a “normal school” until 1927 when it became a state teacher’s college. These initial decades of existence have left a legacy that is still visible on campus today. A few surviving buildings, the names of principals and faculty members memorialized on campus, and the university’s continuing tradition of producing teachers continue to remind students and visitors of the school’s roots as a center for teacher training.

Guiding Questions
  • What are normal schools? Where did such schools originate? What is their purpose?
  • What was different about campus life during the Normal School era?
  • What specific function did the West Chester Normal School serve? What was it intended to produce?
  • How did the educational and career goals of white and Black students differ during the era? How was life different for white and Black students at the time?
West Chester University   ---    WCU Libraries  25 West Rosedale Avenue, West Chester, PA 19383  610-430-4400