Ohio University Southern continues its proud tradition of educating teachers.

The slow rumble of school buses and the cute first-day of-school photos on social media mark the end of summer for Tri-State students. For teachers, the vacation ends earlier as they’ve spent the past few weeks preparing their lessons and classrooms for a new academic year.

Today, teachers must have at least a bachelor’s degree, have successfully completed practical experience and pass state certifications. In the 1950s, however, the post-war baby boom created a shortage of classroom teachers across the country and provisions had to be put in place to get educators into vacant positions more quickly.

During the 1953-54 academic year, Ohio University began offering a cadet teaching program to the existing three branches in Chillicothe, Portsmouth and Zanesville. Under the program, students were able to complete all requirements for the teachers certificate with two years of course-work.

In May 1956, Ironton was one of two cities requesting a campus and, once approved, classes began in the old Ironton High School in fall of that year.

At that time, the primary focus of the Ironton Branch, now Ohio University Southern (OUS), was educating cadet teachers to fill this need in surrounding communities.

Catherine Waddle was one of the first graduates of the cadet teaching program. Waddle was in the 1956-1958 cohort, and following her graduation from that program, she traveled to Athens to obtain her bachelor’s in education and later earned a master’s in early childhood education from Marshall University. Waddle spent 37 years inspiring young minds as a teacher of first, second and third grades at Deering Elementary.

Waddle explained, “There was a lot of need for teachers in our area at that time. In just two years, cadet teachers could be working in a classroom. That was a great benefit.”

Linda Mann, now Early Childhood Education instructor and the child development coordinator at Ohio University Southern, began her education career in Ironton as part of the 1963 cohort of cadet teachers. Mann has fond memories of her classmates and the experiences that sparked her love of both teaching and learning.

“We were a very small group of local people going through this experience, and we had such great camaraderie,” Mann said. “In fact, many of us are still friends to this day.”

Once Mann graduated from the cadet teaching program, she obtained a bachelor’s in education and a master’s in elementary education administration from Marshall University.

Although many aspects of preparing teachers for the classroom have changed, the slogan of regional campuses from 60 years ago, “Learn While You Earn,” rings true to today.

“Southern continues to recognize that many of our students have to work while they are pursuing their bachelor’s degree,” Mann said. “For them, we offer a two-year child development degree that qualifies them to work in a pre-school while they pursue their four-year education degree.”

OUS offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor of Science in middle childhood education.

Ohio University Southern would love to see your old photos and record your memories of the university. Please contact Traci Tillis, director of marketing and public relations at ttillis1@ohio.edu or call 740-533-4656 with your story.

 

Traci Tillis is the director of marketing and public relations for Ohio University Southern. She can be reached at 740-533-4656 or at tillis1@ohio.edu.