Nova scotia teachers college
Encyclopedia
The Nova Scotia Teachers College is a former university
that was located in the town of Truro
, Nova Scotia
, Canada
.
Founded as the Provincial Normal School
the college was established by an act of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
, which received Royal Assent
on March 31, 1854. At its official opening on the "civic square" fronting Prince Street in Truro's downtown core on November 14, 1855, its first principal, the Reverend Dr. Alexander Forrester, described the school's objective to be "the training or the qualifying of Teachers for the better and more efficient discharge of the duties of their important office."
In 1857 a model school was opened to provide facilities for teaching practice. In 1878 the original normal school building was replaced, and in 1900 a science building was added to the campus.
In 1909 the name of the Provincial Normal School was changed to the Provincial Normal College; this was changed again in 1951 to the Nova Scotia Normal College, a designation that was retained until the 1961 move to the new campus on Arthur Street when the institution was renamed the Nova Scotia Teachers College.
Throughout the years the institution broadened its training and improved the qualifications of its graduates. In 1932 Junior Matriculation
(grade 11) became the minimum entrance requirement, and in 1961 the one-year program was superseded by a two-year program of teacher education beyond Nova Scotia grade 12.
A three year integrated program, originally established on an optional basis, was the basic program from 1972 to 1989. This program led to a diploma with the academic title of "Associate in Education of the Nova Scotia Teachers College."
In 1981 an agreement was reached with all Nova Scotia institutions offering pre-service teacher education, to offer a joint degree to students completing the A.Ed. (NSTC). The program consisted of five full courses, or thirty semester hours, at the institution of the student's choice and led to the awarding of the B.Ed. degree jointly by the consenting university and the Nova Scotia Teachers College.
In 1989 the Nova Scotia Teachers College was granted degree-granting status by the Nova Scotia government and the college entered into an affiliation agreement with Mount Saint Vincent University
in Halifax which saw NSTC grant a Bachelor of Education
degree. The B.Ed. degrees were granted in the name of both institutions to students who successfully completed the four year NSTC program of studies and read "Nova Scotia Teachers College in association with Mount Saint Vincent University." This became the basic teacher education program of NSTC until its closure.
), Dalhousie
, and Saint Mary's were identified for closure, with B.Ed. degrees to be offered in Nova Scotia only at St. Francis Xavier
, Acadia
, Mount St. Vincent
, and Sainte-Anne
.
In 1997 the last class graduated from the Nova Scotia Teachers College and the Arthur Street campus constructed in 1961 was turned over to the Nova Scotia Community College
, becoming the NSCC Truro campus.
announced a community-led plan to restore the Provincial Normal College building constructed in 1878 on the "civic square" in downtown Truro as an arts and culture centre with possible affiliation with the Nova Scotia Community College. In 2010 the Town of Truro was also reportedly examining the old Provincial Normal College building for restoration as the town's new library.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
that was located in the town of Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Founded as the Provincial 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...
the college was established by an act of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
, which received Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
on March 31, 1854. At its official opening on the "civic square" fronting Prince Street in Truro's downtown core on November 14, 1855, its first principal, the Reverend Dr. Alexander Forrester, described the school's objective to be "the training or the qualifying of Teachers for the better and more efficient discharge of the duties of their important office."
In 1857 a model school was opened to provide facilities for teaching practice. In 1878 the original normal school building was replaced, and in 1900 a science building was added to the campus.
In 1909 the name of the Provincial Normal School was changed to the Provincial Normal College; this was changed again in 1951 to the Nova Scotia Normal College, a designation that was retained until the 1961 move to the new campus on Arthur Street when the institution was renamed the Nova Scotia Teachers College.
Throughout the years the institution broadened its training and improved the qualifications of its graduates. In 1932 Junior Matriculation
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
(grade 11) became the minimum entrance requirement, and in 1961 the one-year program was superseded by a two-year program of teacher education beyond Nova Scotia grade 12.
A three year integrated program, originally established on an optional basis, was the basic program from 1972 to 1989. This program led to a diploma with the academic title of "Associate in Education of the Nova Scotia Teachers College."
In 1981 an agreement was reached with all Nova Scotia institutions offering pre-service teacher education, to offer a joint degree to students completing the A.Ed. (NSTC). The program consisted of five full courses, or thirty semester hours, at the institution of the student's choice and led to the awarding of the B.Ed. degree jointly by the consenting university and the Nova Scotia Teachers College.
In 1989 the Nova Scotia Teachers College was granted degree-granting status by the Nova Scotia government and the college entered into an affiliation agreement with Mount Saint Vincent University
Mount Saint Vincent University
Mount Saint Vincent University is a university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was established in 1873 and is locally referred to as The Mount.-History:...
in Halifax which saw NSTC grant a Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
degree. The B.Ed. degrees were granted in the name of both institutions to students who successfully completed the four year NSTC program of studies and read "Nova Scotia Teachers College in association with Mount Saint Vincent University." This became the basic teacher education program of NSTC until its closure.
Closure
In 1994 the NSTC community and its many supporters were shocked by the provincial government's decision to consolidate all education programs offered by Nova Scotian universities. Programs at NSTC, as well as UCCB (now CBUCape Breton University
Cape Breton University , formerly the "University College of Cape Breton" , is a Canadian university in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
), Dalhousie
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, and Saint Mary's were identified for closure, with B.Ed. degrees to be offered in Nova Scotia only at St. Francis Xavier
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
, Acadia
Acadia University
Acadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level...
, Mount St. Vincent
Mount Saint Vincent University
Mount Saint Vincent University is a university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was established in 1873 and is locally referred to as The Mount.-History:...
, and Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne is a francophone university located in the seaside town of Pointe-de-l'Église in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the only French-language university in the province of Nova Scotia and is one of only two such universities in the Maritime Provinces, the other being the Université...
.
In 1997 the last class graduated from the Nova Scotia Teachers College and the Arthur Street campus constructed in 1961 was turned over to the Nova Scotia Community College
Nova Scotia Community College
The Nova Scotia Community College, commonly referred to as the NSCC, is a community college serving the province of Nova Scotia.The college delivers a diverse program of trades, technology, health, human services, applied arts, new media, business administration and adult education through a system...
, becoming the NSCC Truro campus.
Restoration of historic Provincial Normal College
In September 2008 the actress (and later MLA for Truro-Bible Hill) Lenore ZannLenore Zann
Lenore Zann is a politician as well as a screen, television, stage, and voice actress who has appeared in numerous television shows and films...
announced a community-led plan to restore the Provincial Normal College building constructed in 1878 on the "civic square" in downtown Truro as an arts and culture centre with possible affiliation with the Nova Scotia Community College. In 2010 the Town of Truro was also reportedly examining the old Provincial Normal College building for restoration as the town's new library.
Notable alumni
- Natalie MacMasterNatalie MacMasterNatalie MacMaster, CM is an award-winning fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada who plays Cape Breton fiddle music....
- Joyce BarkhouseJoyce BarkhouseJoyce Carman Barkhouse, is a Canadian children's writer best known for writing historical fiction.-Education and family life:...
- Hanson Taylor DowellHanson Taylor DowellHanson Taylor Dowell, QC was a Canadian educator, lawyer, judge and politician. He was closely associated with minor hockey throughout most of his life, and spent one term as president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.Born in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, the son of the late George Harris...
- Alistair MacLeodAlistair MacLeodAlistair MacLeod, OC is a noted Canadian author and retired professor of English at the University of Windsor.- Academic career :...
- Firman McClureFirman McClureFirman McClure was a lawyer, editor and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Colchester County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1896 to 1897 and Colchester in the Canadian House of Commons from 1897 to 1900 as a Liberal member.He was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, the son...
- Eleanor NorrieEleanor NorrieEleanor Elizabeth Tucker Norrie is a former teacher, restaurant owner and politician in Nova Scotia, Canada. She represented Truro-Bible Hill in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 1998 as a Liberal member....
- Thomas George RoddickThomas George RoddickSir Thomas George Roddick was a Canadian surgeon, medical administrator, and politician born in Harbor Grace, Newfoundland-Medical service:...
- Jordan W. SmithJordan W. SmithJordan Wesley Smith was a physician and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Queen's County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1911 to 1920 as a Liberal member....