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First Picture Book Published
Orbis Pictus, the first ever children's picture book to be published, was created by a man named John Comenius; a Czech educator and a firm believer that education occurs through the senses. Originally published in Latin and German in the year 1658, it later was translated to English in the year 1659. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau states that children learn through hands-on activities, and believed that to adequately raise and educate a child would require a more natural approach. Many of the modern day teaching styles can be attributed to the beliefs and philosophies of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. -
First Kindergarten is Founded
The first ever kindergarten, the "Garden of Children", was founded by a man named Friedrich Froebel in 1837. It was in his belief that children were like "tiny flowers" and that they grew and developed through "unfolding." Before Froebel opened the "garden of Children", it was not believed that children under the age of seven needed to be educated, in his own words "...because learning begins when consciousness erupts, education must also." -
First Public School Kindergarten in the U.S
Susan Blow, Known as the "mother of kindergarten", Took the philosophies and teachings she learned from Germany with her to the states and opened the first successful kindergarten in the Carondalet neighborhood of St. Louis. -
First Montessori School is Opened
The Montessori Method, developed by a woman named Maria Montessori, focuses on the "human spirit and the development of the whole child." Maria Montessori opened her first Montessori school, called the "Casa dei Bambini", in Rome of 1907. -
The Even Start Program
This program, developed in 1988, offers grants to help support in the education of adults and children of low income families. This program is designed to help the academic achievement of parents and children to help "create a literate home environment." -
No Child Left Behind Act
Signed into law by President George W. Bush, the No Child Left Behind act (or NCLB), ensures that schools are held accountable for the academic progress of all students through testing. Schools and Districts that meet the requirements are provided funding, and those who cannot are subject to the consequences. -
Preschool for all Initiative
The preschool for all initiative, created by President Barack Obama in 2013, allows access to preschool for all low to moderate income households. This initiative ensures a well established system of early learning for children from birth to age five.
