11 Facts About Arnold Tompkins

Arnold Tompkins was an American educator and university president in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, most known for his work at Illinois State Normal University and Chicago Normal School.

Arnold Tompkins had brief stints at Indiana University and Butler University before enrolling in and graduating from the Indiana State Normal School in 1880 at the age of 31.

Arnold Tompkins taught in Worthington, Indiana, from 1880 to 1882, after which he became the superintendent of schools in Franklin, Indiana.

Arnold Tompkins moved to the normal school at Terre Haute as an English teacher in 1890, then departed three years later to become a student at the University of Chicago for two years.

Arnold Tompkins published several books related to education and pedagogy, such as A Graded Course of Study for the Franklin Public Schools, The Science of Discourse, The Philosophy of Teaching, and The Philosophy of School Management.

Arnold Tompkins worked to strengthen the faculty and improve the curriculum to better prepare students to become high school teachers.

In 1900, after ten months, Arnold Tompkins left ISNU and became the president of the Chicago Normal School, which today is split into Chicago State University and Northeastern Illinois University.

Arnold Tompkins said he left the school because the Chicago school would have better facilities and opportunities for him to truly accomplish what he wanted in education.

However, Arnold Tompkins did not let this faze him, and continued to work hard to bring the school success.

Arnold Tompkins died on August 14,1905, in Menlo, Georgia, while on vacation from his job at the Chicago Normal School.

Arnold Tompkins was buried in the Alpine Community Church Cemetery in Menlo, Georgia.