David Perkins Page
Encyclopedia
David Perkins Page was an American educator and author of the most popular 19th-century American education textbook. From 1844 to 1847, he served as the first principal of the New York State Normal School, which later became University at Albany, SUNY
.
Page was born to a farm family in Epping, New Hampshire
on July 4, 1810. As a child, he begged his father to let him attend the nearby Hampton
Academy, but his father refused, because he did not consider a school education necessary for a farmer. However, after Page contracted a nearly fatal illness in 1826 at the age of 16, his father relented. Page then attended the academy for a few months at age 17, advanced sufficiently to obtain a teacher's license, and taught for a term in local schools in order to fund his further studies. He then returned to the Hampton Academy and studied for an additional year.
In the winter of 1829, at the age of 19, Page began teaching in a country school in Newbury, Massachusetts
. After the winter term, he founded his own private school, beginning with five pupils. In March of 1832, he was chosen to become Associate Principal of the new Newburyport
high school, where he headed the English Department. In Massachusetts high schools in the early 19th century, the English Department was the half of the high school with a practical focus, and was distinct from the Classical Department which focused on preparing students for college by focusing on Latin and Greek.
In August 1838, Page delivered an address before the American Institute of Instruction
on the topic of "Duties of Parents and Teachers". Horace Mann
, who was in the audience, stated that this was the finest speech delivered before the Institute in its history, and arranged to have 6,000 copies printed and circulated to Massachusetts teachers. Page became a frequent contributor to Mann's Common School Journal.
In December 1844, Page was selected to be the first principal of the new New York State Normal School in Albany, New York
. The state legislature had appropriated funds for the school in the previous year, based on the example of Mann's school in Massachusetts, and sought out Page on Mann's recommendation. The project faced stiff political opposition, and throughout the following years, Page spent much of his time traveling around New York shoring up support for the Normal School.
In 1847, Page published his only book, Theory and Practice of Teaching. It became extremely popular in the growing normal school
movement, and had been printed in 25 editions by 1864. By the time the copyright had expired in 1889, more than 100,000 copies had been sold and it was the most widely-used textbook in American teacher education.
Page fell ill near the end of the autumn 1847 term. His illness was widely attributed to exhaustion from the effort expended in defending the Normal School. He died of pneumonia on January 1, 1848, and was buried according to his wishes in Newburyport.
University at Albany, SUNY
The State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...
.
Page was born to a farm family in Epping, New Hampshire
Epping, New Hampshire
Epping is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,411 at the 2010 census. Epping includes the area known as Camp Hedding....
on July 4, 1810. As a child, he begged his father to let him attend the nearby Hampton
Hampton, New Hampshire
Hampton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 14,976 at the 2010 census. Located beside the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton is home to Hampton Beach, a summer tourist destination....
Academy, but his father refused, because he did not consider a school education necessary for a farmer. However, after Page contracted a nearly fatal illness in 1826 at the age of 16, his father relented. Page then attended the academy for a few months at age 17, advanced sufficiently to obtain a teacher's license, and taught for a term in local schools in order to fund his further studies. He then returned to the Hampton Academy and studied for an additional year.
In the winter of 1829, at the age of 19, Page began teaching in a country school in Newbury, Massachusetts
Newbury, Massachusetts
Newbury is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,666 at the 2010 census. Newbury includes the villages of Old Town , Plum Island and Byfield, home of The Governor's Academy , a private preparatory school.- History :Newbury Plantation was settled and incorporated...
. After the winter term, he founded his own private school, beginning with five pupils. In March of 1832, he was chosen to become Associate Principal of the new Newburyport
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, 35 miles northeast of Boston. The population was 21,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island...
high school, where he headed the English Department. In Massachusetts high schools in the early 19th century, the English Department was the half of the high school with a practical focus, and was distinct from the Classical Department which focused on preparing students for college by focusing on Latin and Greek.
In August 1838, Page delivered an address before the American Institute of Instruction
American Institute of Instruction
The American Institute of Instruction was formed in 1830. The original purpose was to secure a Massachusetts Superintendent of Common Schools. Due the work of Samuel Read Hall, George B. Emerson and E. A...
on the topic of "Duties of Parents and Teachers". Horace Mann
Horace Mann
Horace Mann was an American education reformer, and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1827 to 1833. He served in the Massachusetts Senate from 1834 to 1837. In 1848, after serving as Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education since its creation, he was...
, who was in the audience, stated that this was the finest speech delivered before the Institute in its history, and arranged to have 6,000 copies printed and circulated to Massachusetts teachers. Page became a frequent contributor to Mann's Common School Journal.
In December 1844, Page was selected to be the first principal of the new New York State Normal School in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. The state legislature had appropriated funds for the school in the previous year, based on the example of Mann's school in Massachusetts, and sought out Page on Mann's recommendation. The project faced stiff political opposition, and throughout the following years, Page spent much of his time traveling around New York shoring up support for the Normal School.
In 1847, Page published his only book, Theory and Practice of Teaching. It became extremely popular in the growing normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
movement, and had been printed in 25 editions by 1864. By the time the copyright had expired in 1889, more than 100,000 copies had been sold and it was the most widely-used textbook in American teacher education.
Page fell ill near the end of the autumn 1847 term. His illness was widely attributed to exhaustion from the effort expended in defending the Normal School. He died of pneumonia on January 1, 1848, and was buried according to his wishes in Newburyport.