University of Virginia Library

HISTORY

The Curry Memorial School of Education was founded in 1905 as one of the
academic schools of the University. It was endowed by gifts of $100,000 from
John D. Rockefeller and $50,000 from the General Education Board, and was
named in honor of Dr. J. L. M. Curry, the Southern educator. There were
originally two professorships in the School, the Curry Memorial Professorship of
Education and the Professorship of Secondary Education. In 1914 a chair of
Educational Psychology and Principles of Teaching was added to the School, and
two years later a Professorship of School Administration was established.

In 1919 the School was organized into a Department of the University, with
four professorships, and was placed upon a professional basis similar to that of the
Departments of Law, Medicine and Engineering. The relation of the Department
of Education to the various academic schools of the University remains close,
however, since the academic training of students of Education is obtained in the
academic schools, and courses in Education are credited toward the academic
degrees.

In the spring of 1928 plans were matured to provide more adequate facilities
for observation, practice teaching, and experimental studies. The school authorities
of the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle joined with the
University of Virginia in establishing a program of experimental education and
teacher-training. After the preliminary program of organization had been approved,
the General Education Board of New York City granted to the University
a subsidy of $20,000 a year for a period of two years to forward the program
and make possible its operation for the session of 1928-29. The Rector and
Visitors of the University made a supplementary appropriation of $5,000 annually
for a period of two years, thereby giving the Department additional funds amounting
to $50,000 for the biennium, 1928-1930.