-
Maria Sanford; First Female Professor in US
"Dr. William Watts Folwell, the president of the University of Minnesota, met Maria Sanford while looking for a female French professor. Sanford lacked an advanced degree and couldn't speak any French, but Folwell thought that she was a remarkable teacher. Folwell hired her to teach English instead. He later claimed that bringing Sanford to the University was one of his proudest accomplishments." Sanford retired at 72. The student body grew from 300 to 4,800 during her career. -
Women win the right to vote
“On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. And on November 2 of that year, more than 8 million women across the United States voted in elections for the first time.” (History 2009). Although it does not pertain directly to education, or so it would seem, this was the biggest step ahead in history for women to have the right to prove their intelligence with an actual voice. By gaining the right to vote, women also won the right to advocate for themselves. -
Title IX Passes
Title IX is passed as a portion of the Education Amendments of 1972, which states (in part) that: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." (Wikipedia 2022). This made education for females around the country less financially stressful while obtaining an education. -
Helen Keller is inducted to the Women's Hall of Fame
Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and she was deaf and blind. Anne Sullivan, lifelong companion, taught Keller language, reading and writing. "Keller attended the Radcliffe College of Harvard University and became the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree." (Wikipedia 2022). Helen and Anne are examples of women who changed the history of education and both examples of what person centered education can achieve. -
Margaret Fuller is inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame
Margaret Fuller was an American journalist, editor, critic, translator, and women's rights advocate. Her book Woman in the Nineteenth Century is considered the first major feminist work in the United States. Fuller claimed best-read in New England, male or female, and the first woman allowed to use the library at Harvard College. Fuller proved that a woman, born into her timeframe could be educated equally to a man, even if it was almost 200 years ago.