William Harold Payne (1836–1907) was an American educator and translator. As professor of the Science and Art of Teaching at the University of Michigan in 1879, he was the first university professor of pedagogy in the United States. He served as the chancellor of the

University of Nashville University of Nashville was a private university in Nashville, Tennessee. It was established in 1806 as Cumberland College. It existed as a distinct entity until 1909; operating at various times a medical school, a four-year military college, a ...

and the president of

Peabody College Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development (also known as Vanderbilt Peabody College, Peabody College, or simply Peabody) is the education school of Vanderbilt University, a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. ...

(both of which later merged with Vanderbilt University) from 1887 to 1901.

Early life

William H. Payne was born on May 12, 1836, in Farmington, New York. He was educated in state schools in New York, which offered classes in the winter months, until he attended an academy for three years and a seminary for a couple of months. Much of his education was self-taught. Payne received a master of arts and a legum doctor from the University of Michigan. He received a doctorate from the

Career

Payne taught schoolchildren in Victor, New York, in 1856-1857. He served as the principal of the Union School in Three Rivers, Michigan, from 1858 to 1864. He was the superintendent of schools in Niles, Michigan, from 1864 to 1866. He served as the principal of the

Holy Ghost Seminary Holy Ghost Seminary was a Catholic seminary in Ypsilanti, Michigan, run by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. The seminary was opened because the closest Holy Ghost location, in Philadelphia, had a waiting list of potential students. Since Detr ...

in Ypsilanti, Michigan, from 1866 to 1869. Meanwhile, from 1864 to 1869, he was the editor and publisher of ''The Michigan Teacher'', a review of pedagogy. He served as superintendent of schools in

Adrian, Michigan Adrian is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Lenawee County. The population was 20,645 at the 2020 census. Adrian lies in Michigan's 7th congressional district. History Adrian was founded on June 18, 1826 by Addison Co ...

, from 1869 to 1879. Payne was appointed as the first professor of the Science and Art of Teaching at the University of Michigan by the Board of Regents in 1879. He was the first holder of a chair in pedagogy in any university in the United States. He established the Department of Education. Replacing the late

Eben S. Stearns Eben S. Stearns (1819–1887) was an American educator. He served as the President of Framingham State University from 1849 to 1855, and as the Chancellor of the University of Nashville and President Peabody Normal School (which later merged with V ...

, Payne served as the second chancellor of the

and the president of

from 1887 to 1901. He was critical in working with the Peabody Education Fund to shape the future of the college. Under his leadership, the faculty went from 12 to 38. When he stepped down, he was succeeded by former Governor James D. Porter, who moved the Peabody College campus across the street from Vanderbilt University. Meanwhile, Payne returned to the University of Michigan in 1901. Payne was the author of several books on pedagogy. He "consistently supported compulsory education, financed and supervised by the state." Instead of experience, he encouraged "academic pursuits." Moreover, he believed education to be "the most conservative of all arts." Indeed, he opposed innovation in teaching methods. Furthermore, he believed women were not qualified to teach senior years, science or mathematics, nor were they qualified to serve as superintendent or chancellor. Payne translated ''

Emile, or On Education ''Emile, or On Education'' (french: Émile, ou De l’éducation) is a treatise on the nature of education and on the nature of man written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who considered it to be the "best and most important" of all his writings. Due t ...

'' by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and '' The History of Pedagogy'' by

Gabriel Compayré Gabriel Compayré was a French scholar of pedagogy and politician. Early life Gabriel Compayré was born on 2 January 1843 in Albi, France. Compayré was educated at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. He graduated from the École normale supérieure de ...

from French into English.

Personal life

Payne married Eva S. Fort in October 1856. After she died in 1899, he married Elizabeth Clark in 1901. He had a son, W.R. Payne, and four daughters: Mrs Henry McClelland, Mrs Tillman Jones, Mrs John A. Murkin, and Mrs B.F. Fields.

Death

Payne died in June 1907.

Bibliography

*''Chapters on School Supervision: A Practical Treatise in Superintendence, Grading, Arranging Courses of Study; The Preparation and Use of Blanks, Records, and Reports, Examinations for Promotion, etc.'' (Cincinnati ; New York : Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1875). *''Outlines of Educational Doctrine'' (Adrian, Michigan: C. Humphrey, 1882). *''Contributions to the Science of Education'' (New York, Harper & brothers, 1886). *''Theory and Practice of Teaching, or, The Motives and Methods of Good School-Keeping'' (New York : American Book Co., 1890).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Payne, William H. 1836 births 1907 deaths People from Farmington, New York Educators from Nashville, Tennessee Academics from Ann Arbor, Michigan University of Michigan alumni University of Michigan faculty Vanderbilt University faculty American education writers French–English translators Heads of universities and colleges in the United States People from Adrian, Michigan 19th-century American translators 19th-century American businesspeople