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First Public School in America
The first public school in America, Boston Latin School, was established. This school was an all boys Latin secondary school. It served only as a means of college preparation for the young men in attendance. The school focused on teaching humanities, but they also taught Latin and Greek. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/apr23/first-public-school-america/ -
First College is Founded in America
Harvard University was the first college founded in the United States. This historical college was establish in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard now has 12 degree-granting schools across its campus. At its' first graduation ceremony in 1942, a total of nine students graduated. https://www.harvard.edu/about-harvard/harvard-glance/history -
Passage of the 10th Amendment
The ratification of the 10th amendment gave states control of powers that were not stated in the Constitution. States seized this power, and education took priority. After this, each states' constitution established how their education system would be formed. Some state constitutions were more detailed than others, but all called for a standard education. https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/law/law/education-law -
Separation of Church and State
In response to a letter from a religious group concerned about their rights, Thomas Jefferson uses the phrase "separation of church and state." This phrase is later used in the U.S. Constitution to state this lack of relationship between church and state. This separation also applies to education as well. It is unconstitutional to teach a specific religion in public schools, but can be taught in context of history and cultural appreciation.
https://usconstitution.net/jeffwall.html -
First American Dictionary is Published
Noah Webster wrote and published the first dictionary that was based off of Americanized English. He learned 26 languages so that he would be fully able to capture the scope of the language. Again, in 1828, he publishes the second book of its kind. This was a revolutionary tool in education as well as writing. https://www.merriam-webster.com/about-us/americas-first-dictionary -
Creation of First School Board
Massachusetts creates the first school board in the United States. This creation of the board spawned from a reform movement surrounding education. Horace Mann, a Massachusetts senator, served as the first secretary to the board. https://www.biography.com/people/horace-mann-9397522 -
National Teacher's Association
The National Teacher's Association was founded to give the right of reading and writing to children. Before now, many children did not know how to read or write because it was considered a luxury. Later, the name of the group was changed to the National Education Association. This group pioneered widespread reading and writing education in America for all children. http://www.nea.org/archive/11608.htm -
Dewey Decimal System
The Dewey Decimal System, a way of organizing books created by Melvil Dewey, is a popular of arranging books in libraries. This system allows adults and students alike to easily navigate shelves to find what they are looking for. Many elementary classes use a part of their library time to learn about this system. https://www.oclc.org/en/dewey/resources/public.html -
Compulsory Attendance Laws
Many states had compulsory attendance laws before now, but by 1918, all states had enacted laws for mandatory attendance. These laws mandated that all students of a minimum age had to attend school. It also designated an age of which teenagers no longer had to attend school. https://hslda.org/content/docs/nche/issues/s/state_compulsory_attendance.asp -
Scholastic Aptitude Test Administered to High School Students
The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) was given to the first group of high school students. Previously, the test had been given to Army recruits during World War I to test their IQ. This was the firts standardized test used to test college readiness in high school students. https://www.studypoint.com/ed/sat-history/ -
National School Lunch Act
National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman, formed the National School Lunch Program. This program provides lunches during the school week for those that qualify. There are several ways to qualify, one being low income. These meals are provided for free or at a reduced price. https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp/national-school-lunch-program-nslp -
Sexual Education in Schools
The American School Health Association launched a nationwide program in family life education. This was followed by American Medical Association publishing pamphlets of information that were distributed to school. Although the debate continues today, sex education is something that has changed drastically since its inception in public schools.
http://rethinkingschools.aidcvt.com/sex/sexhisto.shtml -
Brown vs Board of Education
The Supreme Court ruled that "separate by equal" was unconstitutional and was not appropriate for a school setting. The courts also ruled that segregated schools were unequal. This was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement surrounding "separate but equal" ideology. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
American College Test Created
Everett Franklin Lindquist, an education professor at the University of Iowa, created the American College Test (now just known as the ACT). This test was created to be used in schools that had not yet incorporated the use of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). This exam was used as another concept added to college admissions application. Although the test has changed topics over the years, it is still used today. https://blog.prepscholar.com/the-history-of-the-act-test -
Head Start Launches
Head Start launched in the summer of 1965. It served over 560,000 children and families across the United States. In the beginning, it was only an eight-week summer program through Head Start Child Development Centers. Head Start focuses on enriching the lives of young children from poverty. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/about-us/article/head-start-timeline -
First Hand-held Calculator
Texas Instruments created the first hand-held calculator, Cal Tech. The invention of the hand-held calculator made calculators more accessible for schools and other companies. Computation skills, once mastered, can lead to higher-level thinking and a better ability to solve complicated math problems. http://www.ti.com/about-ti/company/history.html (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 204) -
Schoolhouse Rock! Premieres
Schoolhouse Rock! originally aired on ABC Saturday morning television. Over the course of the six seasons, 52 episodes, and 12 years airing on ABC, it incorporated various subjects including history, grammar, and math. The show made kids excited to learn new things by using catchy music and clever words to incorporate learning into mainstream media. These videos are still used in classrooms today, as they are available on YouTube. https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/schoolhouse-rock2.htm -
Single-Computer Classrooms
Apple donates Apple 1 PCs to many schools. This lead to the creation of a new problem: how to manage computer use and appropriately incorporate the technology in the classroom. Although schools have this new tool for learning, teachers must educate themselves as well as their students on how to use it.
https://web.csulb.edu/~murdock/histofcs.html (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 212) -
U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education was founded. Its goals were clearly stated to ensure maximum use of the department. The department also assists the president with executing their educational goals and plans for the U.S. One important goal of the department is to "strengthen the Federal commitment to ensuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual." https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/what.html -
Reading Rainbow Premieres
Reading Rainbow, a show that was originally created for promoting reading during the summer months, took off after it aired on PBS. It gained more traction with audiences than expected by producers. Over half a million people tuned in to every episode to enjoy experiencing a new book. The 2004 PBS Study of Video and Television Use Among K-12 Teachers showed that Reading Rainbow was the most watched PBS program in the classroom. https://www.readingrainbow.org/ -
Virtual Field Trips
Virtual field trips are a way for students to learn about something outside of the classroom without having to reserve a bus. National Geographic created a program titled the "Jason Project." Along with this program and several other, students can gain new experiences online. Teachers are able to bring new realities to their classrooms. https://jason.org/about (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 202-203) -
Laptops in Education
Apple created the first laptop in 1989. This creation led to the movement of portable technology. Laptop carts, carts filled with laptops that can be moved from class to class, became more affordable for schools to purchase over the classic desktop computer. Laptops could be shared between classrooms and students.
http://time.com/3398919/apple-first-portable-macintosh/ (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 212) -
Classroom Clusters Using Computers
Due to the rise in technological development, schools began to have computers more available in classrooms. Classroom clusters became a common type of seating arrangement. Generally, three to five computers were in each classroom. This increased the amount of time each student spent having 'computer time.' Computer games also gained popularity; Oregon Trail was created in 1990. http://fourthgradegingerich.weebly.com/oregon-trail-game.html
(Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 212) -
Box Tops for Education
General Mills created the Box Tops for Education program so that schools could earn money to spend on things that they needed: books, computers, and more. Initially launched in California, the box top program has expanded across the nation. In addition to General Mills products, box tops are now available on products produced by Ziploc, Pillsbury, Green Giant, as well as many others. https://www.boxtops4education.com/about/history -
Search Engines and Classroom Research
The founding of Google and other major search engines catapulted the 21st century into the slew of technological advancements that it has continued to produce. Search engines provide easy access to information for students to do research. Students are able to gain information quickly and efficiently through technology. Today, Google is the most widely used search engine. https://about.google/our-story/?hl=en (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 192) -
Creating Learning Environments with Technology
As the world incorporates technology more and more, we must remember that education is still taking place in schools. Educators must consider many factors when incorporating technology into their classrooms. Some of the most prevalent factors include the cost of maintaining and purchasing the technology, vision with support for leadership in the education system, and student-centered approaches to learning.
(Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 218-219) -
No Child Left Behind Act
After the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, technology became part of mainstream schooling. The act states that "students must be technologically literate by the time they start high school." This creates a forward approach to technology in education and schooling. (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 64, 190) -
Creation of GeoGebra
GeoGebra, a program that allows students to learn about graphical planes by manipulating x and y variables virtually was created. The program is used in many classrooms to help students gain an understanding of graphical concepts. This is an example of a cognitive tool. Cognitive tools allow students to expand and enhance their learning. https://www.geogebra.org/ (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 191) -
Communication in Education
Technology has greatly changed the way people communicate. A popular form of video chat communication is Skype. Skype can be utilized for students to participate in class when they are unable to attend in person. Blogs also serve as a type of popular communication. A blog is a word combination of the words 'web' and 'blog.'
https://blogs.skype.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/skype-timeline-v5-2.pdf (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 192, 197) -
Social Media in Education
After the launch of Facebook in 2004, many other forms of social media have been created. Many of these tools are more reasonably accessible during the current realm of widespread technology. These forms of communication can be harmful, but when used correctly, these advancements can be used as productivity tools and are more efficient than what was available previously. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-facebook-was-founded-2010-3 (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 191) -
Composition Using Technology
Word processors, image and video editors, and three-dimensional modeling tools have made physical editing almost nonexistent. Virtual programs has made the tasks of typing text, editing a photo, or creating models for projects things of the past. Photoshop is a common photo editing tool. Composing any kind of media can now be done in as little as a few seconds. https://www.creativebloq.com/adobe/history-photoshop-12052724 (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 192) -
Publishing in Education
Publishing can be an important tool utilized in many classrooms. Weebly is a common website building tool that combines simple techniques with the complexity of web design. Publishing allows students to take greater ownership and pride in their schoolwork.
https://www.weebly.com/about (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 194) -
National Education Technology Plan
The National Education Technology Plan (NTEP) called for an additional push of technology in education. This plan called for a "revolutionary transformation [of education] rather than evolutionary tinkering." Incorporating technology in schools and education was looked upon as a large task to conquer. https://tech.ed.gov/netp/ (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 190) -
Technology Infusion Project at UVA
The University of Virginia's Curry School of Education operates the Technology Infusion Project (TIP). The program sends students in the education program to work with teachers who actively use technology in their classrooms. These new teachers are then expected to have familiarity if not proficiency when using technology in their classrooms.
http://curry.virginia.edu/uploads/resourceLibrary/Performance_Benchmarking_Guide_2012.docx (Ryan, Cooper, & Bolick, 2016, p 216) -
Teacher-Student Bonds
In today's world, bonds between teachers and students can impact a number of elements. Students encouraged by teachers often do better in school than those who do not have the backing of a supportive teacher. Teachers are more than just teachers; they are educators, coaches, role-models, and positive influences in the lives of students. https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/appsych/opus/issues/2013/fall/gallagher
