Erle Elsworth Clippinger facts for kids

Erle Elsworth Clippinger (born in 1875, died in 1939) was a very important English professor. He loved studying children's literature in the early 1900s in Indiana. He was one of the first teachers at Ball State University. There, he led the English department for many years.

Erle Clippinger's Early Life

Erle Clippinger was born on September 27, 1875. His birthplace was Eau Claire, Michigan. His mother was Mary Edna, and his father was Henry G. Clippinger, a medical doctor.

His School Days

Erle went to Michigan State Normal College. He graduated from there in 1900. After that, he studied at the University of Michigan. He earned his first degree there in 1903. He then got a master's degree in 1904. He also spent a short time studying at Harvard University.

A Career in Teaching

In 1904, Erle Clippinger became a professor. He taught at the Indiana State Normal School. This school is now known as Indiana State University.

Starting Ball State University

In 1918, he moved to Ball State College. This school had just reopened. The land was given to the state of Indiana. Erle Clippinger was the very first teacher hired at this new school. He became the head of its English department.

He wrote the first list of classes for the school. The Indiana government wanted the school to train only elementary teachers. But Erle had bigger plans. He created classes for both elementary and high school teachers.

His Impact and Retirement

At Ball State, Clippinger was a great teacher. Students found his classes challenging and helpful. He stepped down as the department head in 1932. He retired from teaching in 1937. The school honored him by making him an emeritus professor. This title is given to retired professors who are highly respected.

Erle Clippinger passed away on January 7, 1939. He died in Muncie, Indiana.

Books He Wrote

Erle Clippinger wrote several important books. These books helped teachers and students.

• Children's Literature: A Textbook of Sources for Teachers and Teacher-Training Classes (1921). He wrote this with Charles Madison Curry. This book helped teachers learn about children's stories.
• Illustrated Lessons in Composition and Rhetoric (1912). This book taught students how to write well.
• Written and Spoken English: A Course in Composition and Rhetoric (1917). This was a two-volume set.

Written and Spoken English was a very popular textbook. Many high schools used it. Children's Literature was so good that it got a second edition in 1932.