July 3, 1839

On July 3, 1839, the first state ‘normal school’ was opened in Lexington, Massachusetts. It was the forerunner to Framingham State University and had three students. All other schools before it were abnormal. (No. Just no. A ‘normal’ school was what used to be called a teacher’s college or teacher’s school. It was where they trained future teachers in pedagogy and curriculum.) So, in 1839 the first normal school opened and quickly spread across the land and became the dominant school species and would remain so until the 1970s and 1980s, when religious schools would open up to occupy the racist niche that normal schools were abandoning. (While technically incorrect, I’ll allow it, as any school that believes in creationism is abnormal.) Normal schools are still the primary educational species (You mean regular schools, like publicly funded elementary schools and secondary schools), but with the proliferation of private schools, religious schools, and clown colleges, the normal schools are having a difficult time in teaching the American youth actual science, history and the proper way to throw a banana cream pie. (You forgot teaching the proper technique in performing the squirting-flower in the lapel trick.) So remember to thank a public school teacher if you can read and write and know the difference between density and gravity.

About Joel Byers

Born in North Georgia and educated at some very fine public institutions. Real education started after graduating from college and then getting married and raising two boys. Has the ability to see the funny and absurd in most things and will always remark on it, even if it means getting the stink-eye from his victims.
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