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Period: 1100 to
Scholasticism
Early European teachings focused on the scholastic method. Before the printing press, students were expected to copy their own texts and wound up with tomes of information. This method also ensured students were able to compare and contrast larger readings in logic, physics, and semantics. This method was transferred to American learning; particularly, in ELAR.
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/018/489/nick-young-confused-face-300x256_nqlyaa.jpg -
1440
Printing Press
Invented by Johannes Gutenberg, the Printing Press made precise and rapid copies of documents. No longer would transcripts need to be painstakingly copied by hand. This created a boom of literacy and set the stage for all of education as we know it. The Bible, in many renditions, was the first book to be mass produced and read.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printing_press -
The Godly Man's Picture
Though a work of theology, Thomas Watson, a 17th Century Puritan preacher, wrote The Godly Man's Picture which became an educational guideline for a question and answering learning method.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godly_Man%27s_Picture -
Kent County Free School
Established by Charles Peale, this school would help young men learn navigation, arithmetic, Greek/Latin and a mercantile skill.
http://www.kentcountyhistory.org/key/revolutionary.php -
Ursuline Academy Established
Founded by the Sisters of the Order of Saint Ursula in New Orleans, was the first of it's kind - A free school that promoted education for girls and young women of color whether slaved or freed and for those with Native American heritage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursuline_Academy_(New_Orleans) -
Apprenticeships in Colonial Times
The Virginian Poor Law of 1672, allowed for the children of the poor to be placed with a master to learn smithing or another skilled labor. A legal and binding contract between master and teacher, apprenticeships taught young men a trade between the ages of 14 and 21. During the years 1745-1789, 110 apprenticeships were recorded in York County.
http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/volume4/november05/apprenticeship.cfm -
Webster's 1st Dictionary
Known as the "Father of American Scholarship and Education". Noah Webster's first books taught American children how to read and write. Eventually, he would create "A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language" and over the course of twenty six years, could create what we now know as the 70,000 word Webster's Dictionary. Fun Fact - Wanted to return to the original spelling of tongue as "tung" but it didn't catch on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Webster -
The Written Cherokee Language
Due to his exposure the English literacy, Sequoyah began working on logograms, symbols and eventually phonemes for the Cherokee language. Eventually, he attempted to create a character for each word and found it futile. He settled for 86 characters and, after much resistance, began teaching it to the peoples of the Cherokee Nation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee_language -
Civilization Fund Act
Thought to be uneducated and uncultured, the CFA authorized an annuity to support the "civilization process" of Natives. One of the first education laws in reference to indigenous peoples, and it led to an exponential growth in boarding schools for English and the Christian religion. As Native Americans used this education to later legally cede land to the US government, many felt as if this education was a betrayal of their roots. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_Fund_Act -
Troy Female Seminary
Later renamed after founder Emma Willard, the Troy Female Seminary opened its doors after publication of "A Plan for Improving Female Education" in 1819. The proposal called for a women's school to be funded like men's schools. The New York Legislature ignored her repeated requests, until Governor DeWitt Clinton promised financial support. Women began studying a curriculum similar to that of men. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Willard_School -
Catharine Beecher
Catharine believed women could and should be everything a man could be taught.. except politics. Though an advocate for women's education, Catharine didn't believe women should vote. However, her beliefs that a woman's job is to educate and "preserve public health" - a concept that many co-ed educators still believe. She also spearheaded the idea of transcripts for teachers and students. https://connecticuthistory.org/catharine-beecher-champion-of-womens-education/ -
Law of 1833
Though passed in France by François Guizots, the Law of 1833 set the foundation for America's plan to establish primary public schools. Additionally, it required for student families to pay according to their means. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Guizot -
1st Documented Teacher Bashing
Henry Barnard, Executive Secretary for the Board of Common Schools in CT, was the 1st documented case of "teacher bashing". Though a great supporter of public education, tasked with reviewing schools and districts throughout the state, he found teachers were often "ill prepared". He committed himself to the professionalization of teachers. He also became the 1st US Commissioner of Education. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Barnard -
Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson
RWE's works, including Self Reliance, set the stage for the impunity of the educated masses in America. According to the writings, Americans had the right to follow their own ideas and that self growth was the true path to education. http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm -
1st Compulsory Education Law
Having already passed a law while under British rule in 1647, Massachusetts officially became the first US state to sign a compulsory education law. The law required every city to provide a primary school focusing on grammar and arithmetic. Parents who refused to send their children could be fined and stripped of parental rights. http://education.findlaw.com/education-options/compulsory-education-laws-background.html -
Henry David Thoreau's Journal Entry
"...the boundaries.. are no more...than the elasticity of our minds" HDT felt that education wasn't meant as a way to train students via ridged constructs. Instead, school should be about provocation, imagination and the freeing of the mind. Education was meant to be a highly wild and individual experience; not something to be tamed or managed. His thoughts brought together the duality of the objective and subjective observations in higher education. http://www.iep.utm.edu/thoreau/ -
American Journal of Education
Originally published as the School Review, the American Journal of Education posts one of the longest traditions in scholarly work in the field of education. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Journal_of_Education -
Morrill Act & Texas A&M Establishment
The Morrill Land Grant Act establishes Texas A&M University under the original name of Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Building began in 1871 and formal instruction didn't begin until ten years after the initial charter when 40 students and six faculty showed up. http://www.tamu.edu/about/history.html
http://diversity.tamu.edu/VPDiversity/media/library/inclusion/docs/Diversity-Timeline-FINAL-11-1-2013.pdf -
Publish or Perish - German Influences in Higher Education
With lehrfrieheit and lernfriheit, or the freedom to teach and learn respectively, influenced American Higher Education. Professors were scholars holding doctorates of philosophy and were required to conduct original research and publish. American academics now know this as "publish or perish" when on the road to tenure. For more information visit: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED443301 -
First Hispanic to Graduate from Texas A&M
José Angel Ortís, Class of 1891, is the earliest known Hispanic
graduate of Texas A&M, graduates with a degree in civil
engineering. http://diversity.tamu.edu/VPDiversity/media/library/inclusion/docs/Diversity-Timeline-FINAL-11-1-2013.pdf -
Plessy v. Ferguson
"Our case is sacred" - Homer Plessy, legally identified as a black man, participated in an act of civil disobedience as a challenge to Louisiana's segregation laws. Unfortunately, SCOTUS stood by the state decision for legalized racial discrimination with a 7 to 1 majority. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plessy_v._Ferguson -
The Concept of Adolescence
Though it was a 15th century term, G. Stanley Hall was first credited for studying adolescence. America had just gone through the Industrial Revolution, and laws pertaining protecting youth from factory work combined with other social changes ensured that adolescence kept a prominent place in American education.
http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/services/BYAEP_History.asp -
NAACP Establishment
A national Civil Rights organization formed to protect the interests of minorities, houses office in seven states, including Texas. The organization continues to addresses voter rights, disenfranchisement, de facto segregation, prison sentencing, etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Association_for_the_Advancement_of_Colored_People -
Indian Removal Act
Signed into law by President Andrew Jackson, the Indian Removal Act is highly criticized for it's overt prejudice and discrimination again the Native peoples of North America. The repercussions of this legislation are still felt by these indigenous peoples. https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Indian.html -
First Use of Affirmative Action
Known as the Wagner Act, the National Labor Relations Act became the first to use the term "affirmative action". As it was common for union members to be fired, the act ensured they could return to work via affirmative action. Later, through differences in the Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford administration the term is now used in arenas of employment and education. -
National School Lunch Act
Signed into law by President Truman and enacted the following year, the National School Lunch Act provided participating schools a cash reimbursement for each meal served. This supports all students, but specifically lower income students whose only hot meals may be those served at their campus.
http://www.collinsblaha.com/pdfs/education-reform/Timeline-Moments-that-Changed-Public-Education.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_School_Lunch_Act -
Hispanic Serving Institute
Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 afforded colleges/uni to earn HSI designation for a 25% Hispanic undergrad class with full-time enrollment. In 92, the HACU successfully petitioned Congress to formally recognize HSI for their efforts in improving education. Several Texas A&M Campuses receive the designation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic-serving_institution
https://www.hacu.net/assnfe/CompanyDirectory.asp?STYLE=2&COMPANY_TYPE=1%2C5 -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Spearheaded by President Lyndon B. Johnson, this gave states more rights to regulate education according to their needs. Six sections provided guidelines for Financial Assistance for Students of Low Income Families, School Resources, Supplementary Education, Education R&D, Applying for Grants and General Provisions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_and_Secondary_Education_Act -
Sea Grant Insitutions
Signed into law by President Johnson, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now oversees the Sea Grant program. Similar to the national grants, the goal was to ensure ocean study, exploration and conservation. Texas A&M University also holds access to this program. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Sea_Grant_College_Program -
First Hispanic Female to Graduate from Texas a&m
Mary Catherine (Cantu) Custer, Class of 1969, is the earliest known Hispanic woman to graduate from Texas A&M University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. The following year, Irma G. Alvarado also graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor’s in secondary education. http://diversity.tamu.edu/VPDiversity/media/library/inclusion/docs/Diversity-Timeline-FINAL-11-1-2013.pdf -
Lau v. Nichols
This SCOTUS case unanimously decided that the lack of supplemental language support for non-English speakers violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 since schools receive federal funding. This case helped spawn the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 which prohibited discrimination on the basis of language barriers for school students, staff and faculty.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lau_v._Nichols -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEA protects the right to an education for students with disabilities. The Six Pillars of IDEA cover regulations for an IEP, Free Appropriate Public Education, the Least Restrictive Environment, Appropriate Evaluation, Parent and Teacher Participation, and Procedural Safeguards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individuals_with_Disabilities_Education_Act -
Castaneda v. Pickard
First tried in 1978, Mr. Castandea claimed that Raymondville ISD was discriminating against his children based on their ethnicity and language. The case reaffirmed Lau v. Nichols and the Three Part Castaneda Standard came into effect to ensure sound educational theory, effective implementation and instructional materials, methods to determine adequacy of the program. http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/landmark-court-rulings-regarding-english-language-learners -
Space Grant Institutions
Initiated by NASA, the Space Grant Institutions and Fellowship Program began as a goal to "contribute to the nation's science enterprise by funding education, research and public engagement". The Space Grant national network includes over 850 affiliates from universities, colleges, industry, museums, science centers, and state and local agencies. Texas A&M University is also part of the program. https://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/spacegrant/about/index.html -
Native American Languages Act
This historical legislation was a step in the right direction toward respecting the rich and diverse culture and languages of natives. The act not only protected the right to preserve their language and religion, it also solidified the acceptance of tribal governing bodies. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_Languages_Act_of_1990 -
Tribal Land Grant Institutions
An Act of Congress in 1994, granted Land Grant Status to 33 tribal controlled colleges and universities to service remote areas with a desperate need for higher education institutions for this underserved demographic. Currently the USDA provides Tribal College Initiative Grants at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/tribal-college-initiative-grants -
No Child Left Behind
The goal of this act was to close the achievement gaps by ensuring accountability, flexibility and improve school choice options. However, this act ushered in the concept of high stakes testing for accountability purposes and caused a stressful education system for students, parents and educators alike.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Child_Left_Behind_Act -
Common Core Standards
A push for accountability in the 90s led to the creation of the CCS for K-12 public education. Sponsored by NGA and CCSSO, these standards were meant to align the nation toward the common goal of college and career readiness in reading and math. 42/50 states adopted the standards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Core_State_Standards_Initiative -
Race to the Top Initiative
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, schools using CCS or other government approved standards were eligible to compete for a part of the $4.35 billion RTT funds. Thanks to the infinite wisdom of then Governor Rick Perry, Texas opted out of eligibility.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/education/14texas.html -
Every Student Succeeds Act
ESSA, governing K-12 education, amended parts of the ESEA and repealed NCLB. Through bipartisan support, it minimizes the federal government overreach but keeps standardized testing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Every_Student_Succeeds_Act
