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Common Schools Movement
Horace Mann introduced the notion of "common schools" with the premise that schools would be free for students and funded with public money (Marshall, 2012). Schools were to be structured and uniform with bells to help regulate the day. Teachers were chosen to teach students core material. This was the foundation of the public school system (Riek, personal communication, 2020). Today schools still use the bell system and while methods of teaching have evolved, the foundation remains. -
National Education Association (NEA) Committee of Ten
The Committee of Ten introduced a standardization in education with the suggestion of 12 years of schooling for children-eight years of elementary and four years of high school. High school students were to have core subjects including English, Math, and History which are still requirements today. Teachers also received better education, producing quality teachers (Committee of Ten, 2020). These standards of curriculum and training continue today. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled "that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional." Schools were not equal for those of color versus white. The ruling gave all children, regardless of color, to attend public schools, without segregation (History.com Editors). This case lead to other integration cases, including those with disabilities. Today, all children have the right to equal education with inclusion and diversity welcomed. -
Common Core Standards
Due to the lack and variance in standardization between states, Common Core was developed to unify the country's standards for proficiency in English Language Arts and Math (National Governors Association, 2020). By adopting nationwide standards in curriculum, students are ensured a quality education and preparedness that is equivalent throughout the country. Common Core prepares students for education beyond high school and for future careers. -
Covid-19 School Closure
The Covid-19 pandemic forced schools to cancel all in-classroom teaching and resumed lessons online, also known as e-learning. Families and communities were affected as 1.2 billion children world-wide were now learning at home via different technology platforms (Li & Lalani, 2020). Teachers altered lessons to meet the new teaching methods. Since this is a current situation, state and federal education officials do not fully know the effect the pandemic will have on future education.
