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1492
1492- Columbus Arrives in America
I started with Christopher Columbus invading America, which will start the beginning of European influence. The ideas that came with Columbus and the future Europeans continue to be significant in our society, and therefore our schools, to this day. Property, the environment, formal versus informal schooling, race, and story-telling were changed by this event. -
Massachusetts Law of 1642
The Massachusetts Law of 1642 required parents and guardians to ensure their children were able to read and to understand religion and the laws and expectations of the Commonwealth. School attendance was not yet required; however, this was an important event in setting the foundation of valuing education in the colony. The theory that an educated populace is essential for a functioning society is still prevalent today. -
1690 First Publication of the New England Primer
The first publication of the New England Primer came out in 1690. This was the most commonly used textbook in the colony at the time and focused on the integration between literacy and religious education. -
1693- Establishment of the College of William and Mary
The College of William and Mary was established in 1693 in Williamsburg, Virginia. The college was composed into a grammar school, a School of Philosophy, and a School of Divinity. The establishment of William and Mary is important as it set the foundation for a place of higher education in the Southern colonies. -
1749- Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania
Benjamin Franklin's Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania proposed that the language of instruction in schools should be English as opposed to Latin, there should be a focus on scientific and utilitarian curriculum, and students should be prepared to enter the workforce. This document sounds as if it could come out of our most recent educational theory, with the exception of the Latin! -
1762- Emile
An important foundation for child-centered education in the United States came from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's influential novel, Emile. In the novel, the title character experiences a student-centered education that is focused on the stages of child development. Most importantly, Rousseau argued through the novel that children were inherently good and could remain so through education. http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/rousseau-emile-or-education -
1779- Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge
Thomas Jefferson's Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge was not passed at the time, but it did establish important precedents in education. The foundation of the bill emphasized the importance of educating citizens, which is a state responsibility. In addition, the bill considered education a civic practice as opposed to a religious practice. -
1780s-1790s American Philosophical Society
During this time period, the American Philosophical Society called for a change in the American education system. Their theorists proposed a focus on the importance of nationalism and common culture in American education. As the country was mostly isolated by colonies, it was essential to establish a national identity. -
1783- The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris formally ended the American Revolution. This is obviously an important step in the future of our nation, but it also shifted the power of government to the people as opposed to monarchy. That idea is essential for the future of American schools as educated citizens and voters are key to the survival of the new democracy. -
1785- Northwest Land Ordinance
The Northwest Land Ordinance marked the new government's first attempt in establishing an education system. The Ordinance worked to survey the new land (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota) and divide the land into townships. Those townships then were further divided into subsections, one of which provided the funding for public schools. -
1791- The Bill of Rights
The tenth amendment of the Bill of Rights was important for the future of American education. The tenth amendment is not specific to education, but instead makes it clear that the powers not delegated to the federal government are given to the states. Because of this, education is primarily the responsibility of the states. -
1799- Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
There are many events that could be the focus of Pestalozzi's educational contributions; however, his appointment as the director of an orphanage in 1799 led to his understanding that children required physical and emotional security to learn. Pestalozzi encouraged a slow and deliberate process in learning as opposed to the "rigor" of forced standardization that is so common today. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johann-Heinrich-Pestalozzi -
1821- The First High School in the United States
Boston's English Classical High School opened in 1821 as an alternative to Latin grammar schools. The program was three years old with curriculum in English, natural science, math, and history. The trend grew as Massachusetts had opened 26 high schools by 1840. For more information, look here:
http://www.englishhs.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=75360&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=129652&hideMenu=1 -
1821- New York's Teacher Education Academies
In 1821, the University of the State of New York sated the state's existing academies for teacher education. These academies were used to provide teacher education between 1849 and 1889. http://www.nyssba.org/schoolboardrecognitionweek/historical-origins-of-new-york-state-school-boards/ -
1826- The American Lyceum Movement
Josiah Holbrook spearheaded this movement in support of common schools. Holbrook believed that district schools lacked organization and structure, thereby wasting precious resources. For more information, look here:
https://nolalyceum.wordpress.com/about/history-of-the-lyceum-movement/ -
1827- Massachusetts School Tax Support
Massachusetts established compulsory tax support for district and town schools. This was a crucial step in conveying government responsibility for public education. The Southern states followed suit during the period of Reconstruction. For more information look here:
https://www.raceforward.org/research/reports/historical-timeline-public-education-us -
1829- American Institute of Instruction Founded by Samuel Read Hall
One of the early teacher educators founded the American Institute of Instruction in 1829 and wrote the hallmark book, Lectures to School-Masters on Teaching in 1833. Hall discussed common challenges faced by teachers, information on buildings and facilities, classroom management, basics of pedagogy, and foundational content knowledge. As a Congregational minister, Hall connected the ideal teacher with Protestant values. -
1830s Establishment of the First American Common Schools
The first American common schools were established in the 1830s and 1840s in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Common schools were vital in assimilating the new nation. For a new nation working to establish a common identity, common schools provided a foundation for Americanization. For more information, look here:
http://www.encyclopedia.com/history/united-states-and-canada/us-history/common-school-movement -
1833- Samuel Read Hall
A trailblazer in early teacher education, Samuel Read Hall published Lectures to School-Masters on Teaching. His book discussed the issues faced by teachers, information on buildings and facilities, ideal teacher candidates, basic pedagogy, and instructional methods. As a Congregational minister, many of Hall's ideals on education came from Protestant values.
http://oldstonehousemuseum.org/hall-bio/ -
1835- An Essay on the Education of Female Teachers
As a leading advocate for women's central role in education, Catharine Beecher's An Essay on the Education of Female Teachers was presented in 1835. She proposed a plan for a national corp of women teachers, who would be missionaries to the western frontier.
http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/beecher.html -
1836- First McGuffey Readers
Between 1836 and 1920, McGuffey readers sold more than 120 million copies. For a young country attempting to solidify a common cultural identity, this textbook was an important catalyst. The books emphasized civic and moral values while teaching reading and spelling. For more information, look here:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/McGuffey-Readers -
1837- An Act Relating to Common Schools
Horace Mann supported the establishment of the Massachusetts Board of Education through "An Act Relating to Common Schools." He was then appointed the board's first secretary. For more information, look here:
http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/107453 -
1838- Horace Mann's First Report
As the Secretary to the Board of Education, he worked to evaluate the conditions of school and education in Massachusetts. His report in 1838 served as the first of countless evaluations of government schools and programs. He found that the buildings were in terrible shape, the teachers were underprepared, and the district administration was not improving curriculum and instruction. This facilitated overall improvement efforts.
Look at:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Horace-Mann -
1842- Rhode Island Commissioner of Public Schools
Rhode Island proved to be the perfect testing ground for state supported education. As Commissioner of Public Schools, Henry Barnard essentially had free reign over the state's schools to standardize curriculum and to allocate funds as he saw fit. Additionally, Barnard was able to certify teachers, choose textbooks, offer professional development, and establish a normal school. https://connecticuthistory.org/henry-barnard-advances-state-and-national-education-initiatives/ -
1850s- The Rise of Female Educators
In the mid-1800s, women began to outnumber men as teachers. Early teacher education began at normal schools, which provided two-year teacher education institutions. These early teachers did it all- teaching, discipline, counseling, administration, record keeping- the list could go on and on. Not only were their responsibilities great, but they were also watched over by the community and held to high standards. https://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/education/1800s_1.htm -
1851- Normal Schools, and Other Institutions, Agencies, and Means Designed for the Professional Education of Teachers
Henry Barnard made an early connection between common schools and normal schools. Barnard called for focus on several issues with normal schools including the lack of teacher preparation, the lack of financial aid, and the lack of professional and academic preparation. https://www.biography.com/people/henry-barnard-9199454 -
1856- First American Kindergarten
Margarethe Meyer Schurz established a kindergarten in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1856. Kindergartens started in Germany in 1837 by Friedrich Froebel, which emphasized play as an effective way to teach small children. http://www.froebelweb.org/ -
1867- Federal Department of Education
The United States Congress established the federal Department of Education in 1867 with Henry Barnard as the first commissioner. The initial purpose of the department was to put together educational statistics and to publish educational reports. For more information, please look here:
https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/role.html -
1868- William Torrey Harris
From 1868 to 1880, William Torrey Harris acted as the superintendent of St. Louis schools. This is an important event because of the shift in power and management of schools. The principal was no longer considered the principal teacher, but instead became an administrator. Many of Harris' contributions are still seen today- universal kindergarten, quantitative data for school improvement, and the organization of schools.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Torrey-Harris -
1874- Kalamazoo Case
The battles of school funding are long fought. Based on the Michigan Supreme Court's case, it was established as legal for public taxes to support public high schools. This decision facilitated local school boards to establish high schools, making a complete educational sequence. For more information, please go here:
http://courts.mi.gov/education/learning-center/Pages/Michigan's-Legal-Milestones.aspx -
1892- The Committee of Ten
The great debate of high school curriculum standardization began here with the National Education Association. The committee reviewed suggestions regarding the age of instruction to pedagogy to school hours. As is the general curriculum recommendation today, the committee encouraged the simplification of the curriculum.
For more information, look here:
http://faculty.knox.edu/jvanderg/202_K/Commof10Recom.htm -
1907- Marietta Johnson's Organic School
Marietta Johnson established her Organic School in Fairhope, Alabama in 1907. Johnson was a pioneer in student-centered and self-directed education. Johnson saw students as individuals, so she encouraged teachers to recognize students' individual needs and not pressure them to fit into a standardized model. http://www.mariettajohnson.org/ -
1907- Maria Montessori's Casa del Bambini
Maria Montessori opened her first school, the Casa del Bambini, in 1907. Montessori emphasized practical life skills, motor and sensory learning, language, and math skills. Montessori believed reading and writing were interconnected and would happen spontaneously as children were ready. https://amshq.org/Montessori-Education/History-of-Montessori-Education/Biography-of-Maria-Montessori -
1918- Commission on Reorganization of Secondary Education
Another important and long lasting debate in American education has been in deciding the purpose of secondary education. The CRSE was formed in as a critical response to what they felt was the Committee of Ten's narrow approach to secondary education. The CRSE, then, attempted to redefine secondary school's purpose, scope, and function.
For more information, look here:
https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/cardprin.html -
1945- The Life Adjustment Education Controversy
Charles Prosser, a vocational educator, argues that vocational education should be central in high schools. While 20% of students were on the college academic route and 20% more were in career in vocational training, a large portion of the school population was disregarded. Again, the question of purpose in high school education became central. Jobs? Career? Something in between?
http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el_195412_janet.pdf -
1953- Council for Basic Education
As a response to life adjustment education, the Council for Basic Education, led by Arthur E. Bestor, Jr., argued for a more intellectual approach to education, with a focus on history, science, math, literature, language, and art. Bestor believed in a systematic and sequential curriculum that would center around the essential subjects, which are still the foundation of high school curriculum today. -
1957- Sputnik
The Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik in 1957 changed the debate on American secondary education. The National Defense Education Act was established in 1958 as a response to Sputnik and focused on focused and innovative curriculum, especially in the areas of math and science. Like many curriculum programs that begin at the state or federal level, the impact at the local level was minimum.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/sputnik-impact-on-america.html -
1959- The Conant Reports
James B. Conant produced a report evaluating the purpose of American high schools in The American High School Today. Conant emphasized the necessity of high schools functioning as a comprehensive social and academic institution. Conant rejected the European model of vocational and academic tracking and instead made the case of homogeneous ability grouping to develop efficiency and effectiveness in instruction.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/05/18/37proefriedt.h24.html -
1961- Images of the Future
As a leading voice in educational innovation, J. Lloyd Trump illustrated what he saw as the future of education in Images of the Future- A New Approach to the Secondary School. Many of his visions have come to reality- large and small group instruction, team teaching, learning centers, and the use of educational technology. For more information, look here:
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,872809,00.html -
1975- Education for All Handicapped Children Act
PL 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, guaranteed a gree and appropriate education for all children, regardless of disability. The Individualized Education Program, or IEP, was introduced through this act, which required the least restrictive environment for students. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.html -
1984- A Nation at Risk
Written by Secretary of Education, Terrel Bell, A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform conveyed a dire message about the state of American education. Bell contended that American education had been on the decline for decades and was producing "functionally illiterate" adults. This is an important moment in American education as it put the spotlight on the perceived inadequacies of American schools and teachers. https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html
