NOTE:  You can see a video of highlights from the ceremony here.

(Photos by Chris Meyer, IU Media Relations)

The Indiana University School of Education formally marked its 100th anniversary with a ceremony at the Wright Education Building at IU Bloomington on Monday, November 17. IU President Michael McRobbie and IU Bloomington Provost Karen Hanson joined Dean Gerardo Gonzalez and other dignitaries to mark the occasion.

In the fall of 1908, the IU School of Education began its first semester as a separate school. IU formed the Department of Education in 1904, which became the School after the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation designating state teacher preparation sites. During that fall semester of 1908, just four professors taught courses for 189 students.

President McRobbie pointed out even more humble beginnings. Noting the first efforts at preparing teachers started as early as 1851 at IU, McRobbie told of a professor with a daunting task—Daniel Read, a professor of didactics, had the first responsibility of teacher preparation. “Now the School of Education includes hundreds of faculty members across the state who not only train tomorrow’s teachers but also specialize in counseling and educational psychology, educational leadership and policy studies, and a number of other areas,” McRobbie said. “Their research bridges theory and practice right here in Bloomington, across the state, and around the world.”

Provost Hanson emphasized the local impact of the School in her remarks, commenting on the many teachers, counselors, school psychologists, and administrators who are alumni. She said they have “spread the light of the lamp of learning throughout our community, the state of Indiana, and around the world.” She also noted that IU administrators weren’t surprised that a recent study indicated Indiana’s principals rank IU graduates higher than grads of other schools when comparing their teaching staff (read about the study here). “The School has sustained itself through a century of incredible change,” Hanson said. “All the while, it’s grown and prospered as a progressive force, as a school that’s continued to build a broad-based community of scholars while strengthening public education.”

IU Trustee and School of Education alumnae Sue Talbot told about how she earned all of her degrees—high school diploma, B.S., M.S., and Ed.D.—in one building on the IU campus, the old School of Education building which contained University School (now occupied by the IU School of Music). Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan presented Dean Gonzalez with a proclamation calling attention to the School’s 100th anniversary. Deans’ Advisory Council President Danya Greenberg spoke for undergraduate students, telling the audience how the IU School of Education attracted her from the Chicago area because of the experience it would provide her before classroom teaching. Doctoral candidate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies Evelyn Hamilton called the audience to remember the mission of educators to broach uncomfortable topics and ensure education is available for all.

Earlier in the ceremony, Breon Mitchell, Director of the Lilly Library, announced the gift of Deborah Meier’s papers. The Lilly Library will store the papers of the founder of the small schools movement for future scholarly research (read more about the Meier papers here).

Gonzalez reminded the audience of the remarkable step by then-IU President William Lowe Bryan in 1908 to step in as acting dean of the School of Education, a post he would hold for 8 years.  “It must have seemed like a pretty important thing to the president of Indiana University,” Gonzalez said. He said Bryan probably recognized the need for teacher training from his own youth. Bryan grew up in Bloomington and went to local public schools.

“Today we stand in a modern building with a modern view on education, but with Bryan’s sense of importance always on our mind,” Gonzalez said.