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Education in the Colonial Period
Education during this time period was heavily influenced by Puritain values. Public education was not required or provided by the government. -
Impact of Jefferson, Rush, and Webster
Jefferson, Rush and Webster all agreed on the educational needs of the fragile American republic. Webster's book "The American Spelling Book" became a standard for most American school children to learn from. -
The Impact of Horace Mann
First secretary of the board of education (in Massachusets, but also first in the United States). Became involved in all aspects of the common school, even travelling to each school individually to assess the condition of each building. -
Common Schools
Common schools were pioneered by Horace Mann. They were meant to be nonsectarian, and a place where children would learn the 3 Rs: reading, writing and arithmatic. -
Monitorial Schools, Charity Schools, and Infant Schools
These types of schools were invented to help poor and disadvantaged children attend school. These schools were intended to help socialize children and give them some basic education when they otherwise would have had none. -
Committee of Ten
The committee of ten was a group of American educators that proposed the standardization of American high school curriculum. These educators also suggested a standardization of the amount of time children should spend in school. -
The Impact of John Dewey
Dewey is associated with the alternative to traditional education known as child- or learner-centered education. He is considered to have made the greatest impact on American education - more than any other person in our history. -
Rise of Secondary Schooling
(1910-1940)
This movement began in America's heartland (the midwest). The United States lead the world in enrollment and education of secondary, high school, aged students during this time period. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Most Important Brown v. Board of education was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. This was a major event in the Civil Rights Movement, causing controvery, but also creating more equality. -
Sputnik and NDEA
Most Important This act was put into place to provide greater funding for schools. Motivations for this were caused by the Cold War, the Russian's success in the Sputnik program, and the nations understanding that for the nation to progress in technology, and other advancements, education needed to be fostered and greater funded. The NDEA was the start of nation wide reform, involving large-scale change for all public schools. -
Civil Rights Movement & The War on Poverty
Most Important Full integration of African-Americans into public schools. This process had started in 1954, but several southern states refused to allow integration until '68. This was a big moment in the Civil Right's movement and the War on Poverty as it allowed exqual education for all citizens regardless of race. Unfortunately, racism was still prevalent in the schools. -
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act)
IDEA was an act passed in 1975 that required special education services to be made available in public schools. IDEA entitles all students to a quality education in a least restrictive environment - ideally a regular classroom. -
A Nation at Risk Report
Most Important The publication of A Nation At Risk is considered a landmark event in modern American educational history. The report contributed to the growing assertion that American schools were failing. This report brought about major changes in the way education was treated, being the catalyst in educational standards coming about. -
The Standards Movement
Most Important This movement helped to bring a standard of education, nationwide, to all K-12 students. The standards focus on academic standards (focusing on what students should be able to do by the end of each grade); content standards (an understanding of the basics of education); and performance standards (that describe the level of performance a student should be familiar with). Even today, standards are an important and growing part of education in most of the United States. -
No Child Left Behind
This plan focused on boosting the performance of struggling students, causing teachers to teach to the lowest common denominator. States were not required to participate but risked losing federal funding in doing so.
