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Age of Enlightenment
The american education system benefited by the age of enlightenment because it influenced the founding fathers to hold education as important in the country's future. Also, It inspired people like Benjamin Franklin to start schools and academies. -
Northwest Land Ordinance
The acquisition of some of the northwest territories (Ohio, Indiana, etc.) impacted education in two ways. It required that there be a university and center for learning. And a portion of the sale of the land was to fund education. -
The Impact of Jefferson
Jefferson wrote lots on education. His basic ideas were that if we are going to have a country that succeeds then we need to have children who are educated enough to run it. And while he had little success in reforming public education he was one of the first proponents of educational reform. -
The Impact of Horace Mann
"No one did more than he to establish in the minds of the American people the conception that education should be universal, non-sectarian, free." Mann's reform in Massachusetts promoted public education and curriculum. He even went from school house to school house explaining what he wanted taught. He began the common school idea and for years public education was based on his ideas. -
Population Growth and Immigration in the 19th century
Schools, particularly in urban areas, saw an influx of immigrant children from all over the world. Schools struggled with how to teach students who came from a wide range of backgrounds and some who didn't even speak English. In fact, many immigrants came to the states in order to benefit from the public education that their children would receive. -
Committee of Ten
This committee's goals were to standardize the education of all students in america. Essentially, they were distraught that someone in California wasn't learning the same things as a student in Georgia. -
John Dewey and the Gary Plan
Gary IN's school system that focused on treating education as a sort of factory for students and workers. This saw classes that specialized in skills and student taking a wide variety of classes that didn't just focus on fundamental understanding. This was led by John Dewey and his Progressive movement. -
WWII
Education became important in the war effort in order to educate students so they could be better solders. Also, most recruits came from the high schools and most high schools had propaganda campaigns. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
U.S. Supreme court ruling that segregation is illegal. This laid a foundation for Blacks and other minorities to get a better education. There are still factors that segregate (SES, local demographics, gerrymandering) it paved the way for more civil rights legislation. summery -
Sputnik and NDEA
The first artificial satellite launched by the USSR. While not strictly educational in nature it began a culture of competition and part of that was in the school systems. Essentially, we had to have better students than the Russians. This passed the NDEA -
The Civil Rights Movement
Almost hand in hand with Brown vs. BOE, The civil rights movement became important to provide education for all people. Title 9, affirmative action, and other civil rights changes can be traced to this event. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
(Most Important) So much of what schools are today is due to Pres. Johnson's Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This provides funding for schools and works to guarantee fair and equal education for all. Not only does it fund teachers but also materials and facilities as well. (Summery)[http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-of-1965/] -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act IDEA
Law requiring schools to provide free and appropriate education to everyone regardless of the individual's disabilities. Provided opportunities for all children to attend school and not just schools that specialized with disables students. -
A Nation at Risk Report
President Ronald Reagan commissioned this report to understand what was the state of national education. The findings of this report are fairly controversial but it essentially says that american student are failing. It led to a new emphasis in standardized testing but more importantly it shook the faith and pride that Americans previously had in our school system. Looking back -
No Child Left Behind
The controversial renewal of the primary and secondary education act. Requires schools to have a 100% graduation rate and face consequences if not implemented.
