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Period: 469 BCE to 399 BCE
Socrates
Developed Socratic method, that involved critical thinking and questioning and laid foundation for vocational education. -
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Thomas Jefferson
Advocated for education to prepare citizens for active civic engagement. This laid the groundwork for public education and the inclusion of subjects like agriculture. -
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Horace Mann
Mann promoted universal education that included a practical, vocational component to prepare students for economic self-sufficiency. Mann is also known as the "Father of Common School" -
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John Swett
Advocate for free public education in California, Swett emphasized the need for practical skills in education to serve the state's growing industries. -
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Ellen H. Richards
A chemist who founded the Home Economics movement, promoting the study of practical life skills such as cooking and household management. -
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Booker T Washington
Promoted vocational education for African Americans, focusing on practical skills like agriculture and mechanics through the Tuskegee Institute. -
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Alice P. Norton
Early leader in home economics education, Norton helped shape vocational programs focused on domestic science, expanding career paths for women. -
Morrill Act
Established land-grant colleges, offering education in agriculture and mechanics, making vocational training accessible in higher education. -
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Rufus W. Stimson
Developed the "home project method" in agricultural education, blending hands-on experience with formal instruction. -
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David Snedden
Advocated for social efficiency in education, emphasizing that schooling should be designed to prepare students for specific vocational roles in society. -
Second Morrill Act
Extended the benefits of the Morrill Act to African American institutions, promoting career and technical education at historically Black colleges and universities. -
Smith-Lever Act
Established cooperative extension services tied to land-grant universities, providing practical agricultural education to rural populations. -
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World War I
Increased the need for technical skills, which led to the expansion of vocational education to meet military and industrial demands. -
Smith-Hughes Act
First federal law to fund vocational education, creating programs in agriculture, home economics, and industrial education in secondary schools. -
George Reed Act
Increased federal funding for vocational education, allowing more schools to offer programs and expanding the scope of career and technical education. -
George-Dean Act
Provided further funding for vocational education, expanding federal involvement and oversight of vocational training programs. -
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World War II
Similar to Wrold War I, World War II created an increased demand for technical skills in manufacturing and defense, leading to the rapid expansion of vocational education programs. -
George-Barden Act
Expanded funding for vocational education to include training in distributive occupations, home economics, and industrial arts. -
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Civil Rights Movement
Advocated for equal access to vocational education for minority and underprivileged groups, challenging segregation and inequality in education. -
Sputnik
The Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik sparked major reforms in U.S. education, emphasizing science and technology. -
Manpower Development and Training Act
Established programs to retrain workers displaced by automation and technological advances, marking a shift toward further technical education. -
Vocational Education Act
Expanded vocational programs to more students, including those in special populations such as disabled and disadvantaged students. -
Educational Amendment (Title IX)
Prohibited gender discrimination in federally funded educational programs, opening new career and technical education opportunities for women. -
Comprehensive Employment and Training Act
Provided funding for job training programs aimed at addressing unemployment and promoting skills development in public service. -
A Nation at Risk Report
Reported a decline in American educational standards, leading to reforms that included renewed focus on vocational education to meet workforce demands. -
Carl Perkins Vocational Education (Perkins I)
Provided federal funding for vocational education programs, emphasizing access for disadvantaged students and strengthening secondary and postsecondary CTE programs. -
Perkins Act (Perkins II)
Reauthorized the Perkins Act, focusing on integrating academic and vocational education to prepare students for a rapidly changing economy. -
School-To-Work Opportunities Act
Established a national framework to create pathways from school to careers, fostering partnerships between schools and businesses. -
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act (Perkins III)
Emphasized accountability and results in CTE programs, improving connections between education and careers. -
No Child Left Behind Act
Introduced standards and accountability to K-12 education, indirectly affecting CTE by shifting focus toward standardized testing. -
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act (Perkins V)
Provided more flexibility to states in how they used federal funds to support career and technical education, emphasizing alignment with workforce needs. -
Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V)
Reauthorized and modernized the Perkins Act, focusing on industry partnerships, career pathways, and the use of data to improve outcomes in CTE programs.