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Literacy Education in America
Events and influencers of the evolution of literacy education in the United States. -
Massachusetts School Law
A law passed in the Massachusetts colony, in 1642, requiring that parents and masters ensure literacy of those in their charge for the purposes of reading scripture, the law, and sufficient navigation of the learners' station in life. (louis.pressbooks.pub[https://louis.pressbooks.pub/theamericanrevolutionprimarysourcereadings/chapter/early-education-acts/]) -
Massachusetts School Law of 1647: “Old Deluder Satan” Law
Concerned literacy education was being neglected by parents which was the work of Satan, with the purpose of "keeping men from the knowledge of scripture", Massachusetts colony passed the "Old Deluder Satan" law. The law imposed the creation and funding of schools for towns of more than 50 householders. This was the first public education law of the new world. (louis.pressbooks.pub[https://louis.pressbooks.pub/theamericanrevolutionprimarysourcereadings/chapter/early-education-acts/]) -
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Anti-literacy laws
Beginning in 1740 and continuing through 1867, a multitude of laws were enacted in southern states that outlawed learning to read and write for blacks, both free and enslaved. White elites saw black literacy as a threat to the institution of slavery and thought it would encourage uprisings. (library.harvard.edu[https://library.harvard.edu/confronting-anti-black-racism/education]) -
Jefferson proposes two-tiered education.
In 1779 Thomas Jefferson proposes an education system separated for the laboring and the learned, arguing that education would not be helpful to laborers. (www.raceforward.org[https://www.raceforward.org/reports/education/historical-timeline-public-education-us]) -
Department of Education
In 1867, Andrew Jackson creates the first iteration of the department of education, though it is quickly demoted to the office of education in 1868. -
States begin making school attendance compulsory.
In 1890 the first states began passing laws mandating that children must attend school. -
School segregation is ruled unconstitutional.
In the landmark case Brown V. Board of Education, school segregation is ruled unconstitutional, and the process of integration begins in earnest, though it will be a turbulent process. The antiquated idea of separate but equal begins its slow death. (www.britannica.com[https://www.britannica.com/event/Brown-v-Board-of-Education-of-Topeka]) -
Jeane Chall founds Harvard Reading Lab
Jeane Chall founds Harvard Reading Lab in 1967, which she directs until her retirement. Chall changed the way students learn with her research and theories on stages of reading development and advocated for teachers to adopt a child-centered approach to teaching rather than the traditional teacher-centered approach. (newlearningonline.com[https://newlearningonline.com/literacies/chapter-15/chall-on-stages-of-reading-development]) -
Modern Board of Education is born.
President Carter reestablishes the Department of Education as a cabinet office which it continues as today, supervising funding of academic institutions. (www.presidency.ucsb.edu [https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/department-education-organization-act-statement-signing-s-210-into-law]) -
Frithe's Theory of Reading Acquisition
Building from the work of Piaget, Frithe posits her theory of reading acquisition, which consists of three stages. Logographic stage comes first, where the reader recognizes a word as a symbol, not a group of letters. Alphabetic stage, next, occurs when letter-sound relationship is acquired. Last is the orthographic stage in which a systematic approach to reading is utilized. (viva.pressbooks.pub[https://viva.pressbooks.pub/earlychildhoodliteracy/chapter/__unknown__-3/])