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The Invention of the Printing Press
In the late 16th century the printing press created the first textbook called New England Primer. This would bring textbooks to the masses. I added this to the timeline because this was the first book printed for the use in classrooms across America. -
The Academy
New kind of Secondary school was established. Usually it was a private school. Benjamin Franklin is accredited with starting the first Academy in Philadelphia in 1751. -
Development of the Public High School
Offered English curriculum free to all students unlike the Academy. -
Common Schools
The first public schools were called common schools. Horace Mann is referred to as the father of the public school because he was the leader of the common school movement. -
The McGuffey Reader
These books were a set of six books that varied in levels. They were based on world literature. -
Normal Schools
Horace Mann felt there needed to be standards in place for teachers. This was the start of a new movement to provide training programs to allow teachers to feel confident in bringing their skills and personality into the classroom. -
New template for elementary schools
The church-dominated reading and writing schools moved away from the bible and expanded their curriculum into other subjects. -
Committee of 13 on College Entrance Requirements
Standardized requirements for admission into colleges. These requirements put emphasis on the high school curriculum rather than the examination from each college. This standardization gave a template for schools as to what course of study to offer students and how they should progress through secondary school. -
Principal textbook of instruction the Bible, the Testament, and the Psalter.
Elementary curriculum continued to be centered around religious indoctrination. I placed this on the timeline to show the beginning of education and how it will evolve from its highly religious beginnings. -
The rise of Public Speaking courses
Thanks to the rise of Democratization efficient public speaking became more important. Subjects such a rhetoric and declamation showed up at Academies. -
Progressive Education Movement
Emphasize placed on meaning of content other than rote memorization. Aim placed more on individual development and democratic group participation. -
Smith-Hughes Act in 1917
Created a fund for salaries for teachers who taught agricultural, vocational and home economics classes. The act also created a board for inspection and evaluation of these programs. -
Brown Vs. Board of Education
This landmark Supreme Court case ended the concept of "separate but equal". All schools districts had to integrate the races "with all deliberate speed" *I added this to the timeline because it is a turning point in the history of education in the United States. -
Fall of Progressive Movement
Progressive Education Association disbands in 1956. -
Development of Humanistic Curriculum
The humanistic curriculum was a response to the discipline-centered curriculum that some viewed as irrelevant outside of the school. This new curriculum was take a human centered approach. The humanistic curriculum also took an individualized approach to what classes students took based on their interests. -
Educate America Act
Act signed by President Clinton that sought to create national educational standards. Set national goals for schools and created a fund for states to use for reform. There was no national testing and prohibited results of federally funded tests to affect decisions made about students. -
No Child Left Behind Act(NCLB)
Act signed by President George W Bush created accountability measures for states to help ensure all students were proficient in reading and mathematics by 2014. This act also created transparency in state reporting in both what schools were failing and what the state would do to help the school move forward.
