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Colonial Schools
Education during this time was very different depending on the town. Mostly just wealthier people attended. Horn books were used. -
Noah Webster's Blue Back Speller Published
Webster wanted to move away from using British textbooks and British spelling so he published this book to provide American spellings. -
Horace Mann's Impact
MOST IMPORTANT Horace Mann was appointed first secretary of board of education and worked to improve and standardize schools by riding horseback to 1000 different schools and writing of their conditions. He fought for common schools to give all people equal opportunity even for those who were poor. He wanted to use taxes to do this and was very opposed at first but became very influential. More Information -
Roberts v. City of Boston
This was the first case against segregation in schools when Sarah Robert's father tried to enroll her in a better school and she was rejected for being black. The chief justice ruled against Roberts. -
Education After the Civil War
Slaves were now free to go to school, and the U.S. was providing more schooling to more children than any other nation. -
Progressive Reform Movement
MOST IMPORTANT Many children at this time were working in factories rather than going to school because schools were not good places. Dewey introduced many new ideas about how to reform schools to encompass the "whole child" and get children more physically active and get them more in the "doing" aspect. This helped move schools away from the one size all approach that schools once had. More Information -
The Gary Plan
William Wirt developed this work, study, play plan for schools. He wanted to get students up and moving and incorporate other aspects of life like sewing, cooking, etc instead of just common core. New immigrants were very opposed to this and it ended up being done away with. -
Secondary School Movement
Starting in 1910, more secondary schools started popping up across the country. -
Brown v. Board of Education
MOST IMPORTANT This case changed education as well as rights for black people because it sparked events that led to the Civil Rights Movement and integrated schools. A black student, Linda Brown, tried to enroll in better white schools, but was rejected, so a lawsuit was filed. The judges unanimously ruled in favor that separate schools are inherently unequal. More Information -
Civil Rights Act
This act banned discrimination. Most schools were still segregated, but would now lose federal funding if they refused to desegregate. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This act provided 4 billion dollars to aid disadvantaged children signed by Lyndon B Johnson. This created a new commitment by federal government for quality in education. -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act
MOST IMPORTANT Before this law was passed, students with disabilities were not required to receive an equal education and most didn't. This law required that and gave these students many more opportunities and inclusion. Students with disabilities no longer have to be isolated and can now achieve many amazing things such as getting a high school diploma, going to college, and holding a job. More Information -
A Nation at Risk Report
MOST IMPORTANT President Reagan received this report from the National Commission on Excellence in Education. The document affected education as it explained how the poor quality of public schools were threatening the nation itself. It called for reforms, so the states began to crack down on students. We increased requirements and school length and started to try to compete between schools. More Information -
School Choice Movement
East Harlem at the time had the worst performing school in the nation. Specialty schools started being created to try to increase academic performance through different methods and letting students choose which school they wanted to go to. -
No Child Left Behind Act
This act was passed with the idea of helping all students achieve certain learning goals. It affected what students are taught, the tests they take, training for teachers, and the money spent on education.
