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NEA Committee of Ten
The first standard public school curriculum was designed and established by the NEA Committee of Ten. They decided upon eight years of elementary education and four years of secondary education. For the first time students had the opportunity to choose elective classes thus being able to individualize their studies to fit their unique needs. This paved the way for individualized learning. -
John Dewey
John Dewey was an educator, philosopher and pragmatist. Dewey believed that the skills and knowledge that students learn need to be woven into all aspects of their lives. Education should not just be something that students learn in a classroom without any practical applications. Dewey widely influenced the thinking of educators in the twentieth century. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Linda Carol Brown was denied enrollment to a white public school in Kansas. Her father teamed up with the NAACP to fight the decision. Case reports were complied from Kansas, Delaware, South Carolina and Virginia. The case was built around denying enrollment on the basis of race was a violation of the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled that this was a violation of the 14th amendment and that separate but equal has no place in public education. This case had a profound impact on education. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 as part of his "War on Poverty". ESEA provided federal funds to help minority and underprivileged children. One of the things to come out of ESEA was Head Start. Head Start is currently still going strong and available in all 50 states. Millions of children have benefited from the Head Start program. -
Open Classroom Movement
The Open Classroom Movement of the 1970's brought back the idea of teaching in a large classroom or wide open space. The movement was student centered and self directed. This was interpreted by different teachers in different ways. Some taught outdoors or by taking field trips. This idea was taken a step further with the age of the internet. Students could take online classes right from their living room. Online learning increased access to education, especially for the nontraditional student.
