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First State Board of Education-Massachusetts
This event led to all to other states adopting this same unified system, which organized and structured schools in a way that had not existed before. State boards have established standards and made policy decisions that impact the way schools are run, and provide a clearer focus of what students should learn. -
Factory Model
This was the foundation for many practices that are used in schools today, such as running on a bell schedule and having specialized classrooms. The style of teaching used today impacts students in varying ways. Without the factory model, schools might look very different, and the degree to which schools effectively teach students may vary if this model had never been adopted. -
World War I
World War I is the reason standardized testing exists in schools today, which helps schools measure the success rates of their students. It gave schools a way to define intelligence, although it can be argued that standardized testing narrowed our beliefs about intelligence, as it only plays to the strengths of certain kinds of students, such as good test takers and fast readers, and ignores other strengths. -
The Cardinal Principles Report
The Cardinal Principles increased the variety of subjects students may study today in schools. Without this document, schools would not have placed as much value on liberal arts, preparation for future vocations, physical activity, and other methods of learning that benefit the whole student, not just intellectually. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
This historic case unmasked the inequality in schools, and it took the first crucial step to attempt to fix the problem. While we are still a long way from desegregated schools, this case got the ball rolling. Because information about this case is commonly taught in schools, each successive generation is being made aware of the issues of segregation that exist in schools.
