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Horace Mann Becomes First Secretary of Education
The state of Massachusetts created the first Board of Education and appointed Horace Mann as the Secretary of Education. Mann was a great promotor of free and universal education to all, regardless of race, class, or gender in not just Massachusetts, but the entire United States. He was considered "The Father of American Education." -
John Dewey cofounded The New School for Social Research
College professor John Dewey was a philosopher and psychologist who has been linked to being progressive for his time. He believed that education should about teaching skills and knowledge rather than only facts. He said, "True education comes through the stimulation of the child's powers by the demands of social situations..." (Lary, 2006) At the New School for Social Research, students were learning subjects they had interest in and were relevant skills to their daily lives. -
Brown vs Board of Education Ruling
The ruling from the Supreme Court Chief justice Earl Warren found that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," meaning that segregation in the schools was unconstitutional. The ruling was unanimous and a monumental step towards equality in education. Although the United States educational system has a ways to go to become equal in all areas, this was a pivotal moment in history towards not only racial equality, but economic equality. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), a law that has fundamentally changed the way schools were funded. Johnson's "War of Poverty" was a pivotal moment for schools with students from lower-income families. The Federal Government's commitment to educational equality increased resources included professional development, instructional materials, resources to support educational programs, and the promotion of parental involvement. -
No Child Left Behing Act
The No Child Left Behind act, replacing ESEA, was signed into law by President George W. Bush. It reinforced the federal commitment to education and increased the standards schools need to adhere to for funding. More focus was made towards special education and bridging the achievement gap between the lower income and higher income areas. Schools could opt out, but then they would be at risk to lose funding.
