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The Colonial Period
The roots of the American educational system are established -
Boston Latin Grammar School
Prepared boys for ministry law -
Franklin's academy
Eliminated religion; focused on practical needs: math, science, navigation. -
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The Early National Period
The Constitution removes formal religion from the schools and establishes state responsibility in education -
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The Common School Movement
Free public schooling becomes accessible to most students. -
English Classical school
Focused on the needs of boys no attending college. -
Horace Mann
a lawyer turned educator, was a key figure in making education available to all children. Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education 1837 to 1848, he was an outspoken advocate for public education, believing that education was “ . . . the great equalizer of the conditions of men and that it was the key to developing our country and improving the quality of life for all people. -
Booker T. Washington
Was born a slave and taught himself to read. Educated at Hampton Institute, a vocational school for African Americans, he established the Tuskegee Institute. Short of resources, he had his students build the school themselves, and this hands-on approach to learning illustrates his strategy for bettering the education and lives of African Americans in the South. His philosophy became popular, and he was often invited to address White audiences on the topic of African American education. -
Education of African Americans
about 4,000 Black students in slave states and 23,000 in free states attended schools less than 2% of the African American population. The result was a literacy rate of less than 10% -
Dubois
Was born in Massachusetts and educated in integrated schools. He was committed to changing the status of African Americans and advocated a determined stand against segregation and racism. He focused his energies on the top students, believing that they would provide leadership and create opportunities for the rest of the African American population. He advocated social activism and was a leader in establishing the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). -
Committee of Ten
Created standards and methods for High Schools -
Commission on the Recognition of Secondary Education
Created Cardinal Principles of Education, including applied goals in health, and civic education. -
The Modern Era
Schools become instruments of national purpose and social change. -
The War on Poverty
While the high school graduation rate for people living in poverty has increased dramatically, the demands of a high-tech job market are increasing even faster. -
The Education of Cultural Minorities
The legislation gave Native Americans greater control over their schools, and more recently, the federal government shifted responsibility for Native American education from tribal schools to public schools.
