San Jose State Normal Training School History

The Minns' Evening Normal School (also known as the San Francisco Normal School) was established in San Francisco.¹ This school was the precursor to the California State Normal School established in 1862, which is the present San José State University.¹ It was "financed entirely by municipal funds for five years, until the State assumed responsibility for teacher preparation."¹ "As the first State-supported institution of higher education in California the normal school was partially financed by the city and provided with several different locations by the San Francisco public school system for a period of nine years."¹

There was no formal Training School (AKA experimental school), but "the pioneer institution did provide in-service training for a corps of teachers, who, in most instances, needed it."¹

"A highly significant meeting of the San Francisco Board of Education was held on the evening of March 26, 1861. Resolutions in favor of a State normal school, proposed by City Superintendent Henry B. Janes, were adopted. In essence, the resolutions stated that teaching should be studied as both a science and an art and that normal and experimental [training] schools were essential if qualified teachers were to be trained. It was pointed out that females interested in teaching could not afford to attend normal schools in the East. The Board memorialized the Legislature to provide for the school; moreover, it offered a suitable lot and promised to purchase a building for the experimental school, stressing that it could be used by both the State and the city school department. The Board also expressed a willingness to finance the normal and experimental schools for two terms after their opening."¹

¹Gilbert, B. F. & Burdick, C. 1980. Washington square, 1857-1979: The history of San Jose State University. San Jose State University.