University of Michigan School of Education

History

The School of Education can be traced to the first charter of the University of Michigania, approved by the territorial government in 1817, which initially gave the university control over the state's entire system of public instruction. Although this arrangement was changed, the links between the university and the state's schools were firmly established.

In the spring of 1879, the Regents of the university created the Chair of the Science and Art of Teaching, the first full-time, permanent professorial chair in any American college or university devoted exclusively to the preparation of teachers. This regental act recognized that many university students would become teachers and school administrators and that they would not be prepared for their work without instruction in education.

John Dewey spent the years 1884–1894 at the University of Michigan, and while not directly involved in the education program, he left his imprint on the university and was instrumental in launching the State of Michigan school accreditation program.

The school considers its formal founding year as 1921 and celebrated its centennial in 2021.

In 2023, the University of Michigan School of Education received a $50 million dollar donation from the Marsal family. The school was renamed the Marsal Family School of Education in February 2023, an executive decision made by the university's Board of Regents.

References

References

1. "Centennial {{!}} University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education".
2. "School of Education named to honor Marsal family’s gift {{!}} The University Record".
3. (2023-02-16). "Marsal Family School of Education named in recognition of U-M alumni family's historic commitment".