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John Locke
Describes his belief that the human brain is a blank slate at birth and knowledge is gained from experience in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding -
First Public Library
Charles Town, South Carolina is home to the first public library. Humphreys, David (1730). A Historical Account of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. -
First Public Library
Charles Town, South Carolina is home to the first public library. Humphreys, David (1730). An Historical Account of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. -
Christian Wolff
Introduces the idea of Faculty Psychology which implies that the mind learns best through tedious repetition. -
Jean-Jacques Roussueau
Makes the claim that children learn through hands-on experience. -
First Preschool
The first preschool was established by Johann Pestalozzi. -
Blackboard Is Invented
The first modern blackboard is invented by James Pillans. Barger, R.N. (2004). History of American Education Web Project. -
Public Schools Required
A law is passed in Massachussettes requiring all cities with 500 families or more to have a public school accessible to the citizens. Applied Research Center (2008). Historical Timeline of Public Education in the US. -
Kindergarten Established
Freidrich Froebel established Kindergarten in Germany. -
Charles Darwin
Introduces the idea of evolution which quickly becomes a highly debated topic of conversation in schools. -
First Public Kindergarten
The first public Kindergarten was established in St. Louis. -
Ivan Pavlov
Shares his ideas on classical conditioning at the 14th International Medical Congress in Madrid. -
Edward Lee Thorndike
Shares his theory that learning involves habit formation and is strengthened by repetition and reward. -
John Dewey
Shares his views on the progressive education movement and aims to make schools more effective democracies. -
John B. Watson
Conducted experiments with Rosalie Rayner that showed it was possible for children to fear stimuli that they had once not feared. -
Louis Terman
Begins a longitudinal study to test intellectually superior students. -
Max Wetheimer
Explains the importance of learning through insight and understanding the entire concept through the Gestalt Theory. -
Burrhus Frederic Skinner
His ideas on changes in behavior caused by reinforcement have a large impact on American education. -
Lev Vygotsky
Most well known for his concept of the Zone of Proximal Development and has provided significant foundational principles for contemporary social constrictive theories. Lloyd, J. W. (2005). Chronology of Some Important Events in the History of Learning Disabilities. -
Jerome Bruner
Aided in popularizing the cognitive learning theory as an alternative to behaviorism. -
Herbert R. Kohl
Promoted the idea of open education, which involved a student-centered classroom and a holistic approach to learning. -
Even Start
Even Start- a literacy program- is established by the U.S. Department of Education. -
No Child Left Behind
The No Child Left Behind bill gets approved- a bill that helps disadvantaged students gain an education. -
Don't Say Gay
It is prohibited to discuss content related to sexual preferences with younger students in Alabama and Florida. -
Jean Piaget
The Child's Conception of the World gets published and his theories on cognitive development have an impact on American education and developmental psychology.
