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Period: 1483 to 1546
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a promoter of the teaching of reading in schools. He pushed for universal education. Today's importance in reading education can be partially attributed to him. -
Period: to
John Locke
John Locke was known as one of the most influential thinkers. He said that teacher make children because children do what they are taught. He believed that children are molded and shaped by their experiences in life. He pushed that morals were very important to teach a child and did not believe in traits inherited. -
John Amos Comeniu
John Amos Comenius created the first picture book, "Orbis Pictus", for children. He was known as the "Father of Education", and believed that education in early childhood was very important. He was an advocate for sensory learning -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau makes it known that children are different than adults. He believed that children will be who they will be and approached their education naturally. He thought that hands-on learning was best. -
Robert Owen
started a school for infants in Scotland. Owen believed that a controlled environment, a Utopian environment, helped to make a well-behaved and educated child. This may have impacted early childhood education today by having rules in the classroom for the children and the adults. -
First public kindergarten started in St. Louis
The Garden of Children (Kindergarten) was created by Friedrich Frobel. He based his beliefs and education on the fact that children are unique with unique needs. He also created Froebel gifts, which were educational toys made especially for kids. He believed that leaning happens through play. -
Period: to
Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori is a name you have probably heard as the Montessori school system is being used in over 4,000 early childhood education programs. Montessori paved the way for the importance of children learning about things that they are interested in. She respected children and saw that they must be respected in order to be taught. She also believed that children learn by using their senses and being hands on in their learning techniques. -
St. Louis
First public school kindergarten started in St. Louis. -
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association for the Education of Young Children is founded. Now over 100,000 members and 400 affiliates. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is created in 1965 to help low income families to get educations. It benefits schools in buying new and better materials and updating facilities. It also created school lunch programs to help kids get a meal for the day. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act was created to sustain the ESEA. It makes it so schools are accountable for their teaching efforts. To be funded, schools have to test and be adequate in their progress. Many oppose this act, saying that it focuses too much on standardized testing. -
The Preschool for all Initiative
President Obama passed an act in 2013 called the Preschool for All Initiative. It created high quality preschool nationwide. It promotes access to education for children under the ages of 4.