Tarsus American College

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Tarsus American College (official Turkish name: Özel Tarsus Amerikan Lisesi, aka Tarsus Amerikan Lisesi) is a private coeducational high school located in Tarsus, province Mersin, Turkey.

The college was established in 1888 under the name "St. Paul's Institute at Tarsus" after an idea of US journalist Elliot F. Shepard to build an institution in dedication to "St. Paul" during his visit to Tarsus.

In the first years, the school had close contact with the American Board Foundation, a charity organisation located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Alexander Mac Lachlan and Hartune S. Jenanyan served as the first school administrators until 1891, Thomas D. Christie from 1893 to 1920.

Education was carried out in the school's first building "Shepard Hall" until 1911, the completion of "Stickler Hall". Donated by a US citizen Vanderpool in dedication to his mother, Stickler Hall, the tallest building in Tarsus with its five storey, is the symbol of Tarsus American College since its construction.

The school was called both "St. Paul's Institute at Tarsus" and "Tarsus American College" between 1911 and 1928, and from 1930 on, the name is solely Tarsus American College.

Coeducation started in 1979 with 35 girls joining the student body of 506 boys. In 1986, the school graduates its first coed alumni. The same year, the boarding section, available from the preparatory class, was closed until its reopening for boys in 2002.

During the 1980s, the school was notorious among Western expatriate teachers for the brutal behavior of students. Not only did older students bully far younger ones, but they also physically attacked children of teachers and broke into teachers’ apartments and wrecked them. The administration, missionary dominated, was always very passive.

In this period as well, many parents bribed teachers so their children could get passing marks, especially on re-sits. The method was usually to hire a teacher on the committee writing the re-sit test to tutor the child who take the test, and pay him off. An alternative method frequently used was to invite testing teachers to the parents’ country house, and give expensive presents there.