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The Business of Living & Progressing
John Locke, a British philosopher, felt that people had both civic and political rights no matter what family they were born to. He wrote the book, "Some Thoughts Concerning Education" to help parents teach their children necessary life skills and morals. This shift in the early colonial education was because Locke, and others, started to value the purpose, welfare and psychological needs of children. -
A New America
July 4, 1776, is when America declared their independence from Britain. Though the founding fathers did not include it in the constitution, their words and intent were that there would be separation of church and state; thus laying the foundation for a changing and growing educational system within America. They acknowledged and embraced the new country's diverse society; the transition from being a religious based education to a nonsectarian system started. -
The Protection of Children & Teachers
Always inclusive and ahead of their time, the National Teachers Association included African Americans before the Civil War started and elected a female president before women were given the right to vote. Their mission is "To advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world." -
Bridges
In an ironic play of dates and name, Ruby Bridges was born the same year as the U.S. Supreme Court ruling of Brown v. Board of Education, 1954. Bridges was the first African American child to enroll in a "white" school, 6 years after the court ruling to desegregate all schools. She was a brave 1st grader that "bridged" the two worlds together, praying for the people protesting hate to her as she walked into school everyday. -
Children with Disablities
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was inspired by the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. After years of advocating for children who were intellectually and or physically challenged, this act helped protect and include all children no matter what their learning capacity. At the time of this act, 1975, more than 8 million children with disabilities lived in the United States.
