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A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge
Bill 79, also known as "A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge" was authored by Thomas Jefferson. It proposed a public educational system that would be funded by tax dollars for 3 years. This would allow all "free" children, male and female to go to classes for 3 years free. The children were able to go longer if wished, however their families would have to pay for the additional schooling independently. -
The Land Ordinance of 1785
This Ordinance states that western territories would be divided into townships made of 640 acre sections, of which one is to be set aside for the maintenance of public schools. This laid the foundations of land policy until the Homestead Act in 1862. -
The Young Ladies Academy of Philadelphia
The Academy was founded by John Poor and was the first all female Academy in America. They offered an extensive curriculum including: reading, writing, English grammar, mathematics, geography, rhetoric, composition, chemistry and natural philosophy. It was a new kind of school for a new nation-it was officially recognized by the government. In less than a year after opening they had enrolled almost 100 girls, educating young women from throughout the new republics eastern states. -
The Northwest Ordinance
Adopted by the Second Continental Congress, this Ordinance provided a plan for a western expansion and banned slavery in new states. Freedom of religion was guaranteed, as well as other civil liberties and the resident Indians were promised decent treatment, and education was going to be paid for. This Ordinance specifically recognized the importance of education, it provided a way for education to be paid for through the sale of the 16th section in each township. -
Prudence Crandall
Crandall taught briefly in Plainfield in 1831, then opened a private girls academy in Canterbury. After she admitted Sarah Harris, an African American from a wealthy family who wanted to become a teacher, parents became outraged and withdrew their children. She then transformed her school to one for African American girls, the first school of its kind, in 1833. After legal harassment and social ridicule, an angry mob destroyed her school in 1834 forcing her to close the school for good. -
Friedrich Froebel
In 1837 he founded the "Kindergarten" or "garden of children", originally called Child Nurture and Activity Institute. He also started a publishing firm for educational and playing materials, inventing a collection of "Mother-Play and Nursery Songs". Froebel insisted on improvement of infant education, that it is a vital preliminary to comprehensive social and educational reform. -
Platt Rogers Spencer
Created the most used handwriting teaching system called Spencerian Penmanship. He actively practiced his penmanship while working several jobs to help support his family, often as a clerk in different jobs. Spencer personally opened schools to teach his system at Geneva and Cleveland, Ohio as well as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
