Historical Background

• 1953 - Shift from one class offered: Psychology 1, to two classes offered: Psychology 1 (elementary psychology) and Psychology 3 (general psychology)
• 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education: the United States Supreme Court unanimously outlaws segregation in public education and declares racially separate public schools (such as St. Mary’s) unequal. States are instructed to begin desegregation plans “with all deliberate speed.”
• 1954 - male faculty arrive at the junior college
• 1955 - the number of male commuters increases
• 1957 - J. Fred Kilpatrick becomes the new psychology teacher, and four classes are offered in psychology: Psychology 1 (elementary psychology), Psychology 3/4 (general psychology), Psychology 6 (child growth and development)
• 1958 - In Board of Education v. Joan Elaine Groves, Great Mills High School (white) is court-ordered to enroll three African Americans.
• 1958 - Mr. Kemp P. Yarborough, Miss L. Beatrice Simms, and Mrs. Lois Donhiser teach psychology classes, addition of child growth and development.
• 1959 - possible first lab component in psychology elective classes
• 1959 - The Seminary Junior College is granted accreditation by Middle States

Changes in the Curriculum

1950

Tolbert G Griffin joins the staff and teaches at St. Mary's for 5 years (1950-1954). Helen L Cunliffe also joins and teaches at the school for seven years (1950-1956). They alternate teaching the courses for the first 5 years

1953

From 1928 up until 1953 only one course was offered at the school Psychology 1 - a general introduction to the course and subject. In 1953 two courses became available:

Psychology 1: Elementary Psychology

Description: This course gives the young student a knowledge of herself and of other people, and shows how to adjust herself to school life and to the world of people outside of school. Open to freshmen and sophomores

Psychology 3: General Psychology

Description: An introductory course planned to lay a foundation for further psychological work and, at the same time, to give the student a brief introduction to the various fields of psychology. The course is enriched with readings and studies of the function of psychology in the world today.

1957

J. Fred Kilpatrick joins the staff and the elective courses change from 2 offered to 4. Including the psychology 1, 3, 4 and 6. The addition of psychology 4 and 6 introduce sub topics in the field of psychology. Each course was worth 3 credits and were taught 3 hours/week. The course descriptions can be viewed below:

Psychology 4: Psychology of the Exceptional Child

Description: This course deals with the mental equipment of individual children, degrees of retardation and their causes, disorders of behavior and their psychological basis. Causes of emotional disturbances and the special needs of children with emotional problems are outlined. The characteristics and needs of gifted children together with special problems in development, motivation and learning are considered.

Psychology 6: Child Growth and Development

Description: A study and analysis of the behavior of children with special emphasis being given to characteristic patterns which manifest themselves at various levels of development. The biological and environmental factors and their interactions are considered in terms of effects on the child as an individual and as a member of society. Observation of child behavior will be included in the course.

The addition of psychology 6: Child Growth and Development introduced the possibility of the first psychology lab at the campus, due to the observation component listed in the course description.

1958

3 new staff members are added to the list of psychology professors, and there was a shift in the courses. Elementary Psychology was eliminated and the course code shifted to:

• Psychology 10: General Psychology
• Psychology 50: Psychology of the Exceptional Child
• Psychology 51: Child Growth and Development

The course descriptions remained and probably the content, but a shift in professor could change the way the class was taught. The new staff included two who taught psychology for 1 year Miss L. Beatrice Simms, Mrs. Lois Donhiser. The third professor was involved in psychology for 8 years Mr. Kemp P. Yarborough.

1959

Lewis C. Miles began teaching psychology as well and continued in this work for 8 years, similar to Yarborough.

� Source: Admissions Office Blog (n.d.); Haugaard, Wilkinson, and King (2007); St. Mary's Seminary Junior College (1950-1953); St. Mary's Seminary Junior College (1953-1964)