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Thomas Jefferson
Although there are many thing Thomas Jefferson helped our country establish on his list was not public education. Although it's not for lack of trying. His whole time in the different offices in American politics he tried to have a bill passed because he believe that we need to educate our citizen to be able to have a democratic republic.
http://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/excursions/thomas-jefferson-public-education-part-1 -
Noah Webster
Webster created a unified language. Noah Webster wanted America to be it's own country and created his own textbooks, and eventually dictionaries. http://study.com/academy/lesson/noah-websters-impact-on-education.html -
Common Schools
Common Schools was the practice of educating the youth at the time. It was usually a one room school house that was available to those who had parent who could pay in some way towards their education. Usually at this time it was in place to help those student learn to read their bibles and become educated to follow in the footsteps of their fathers.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Common_School_Movement.aspx -
Horace Mann
In 1837 Horace Mann was named the Secretary to the Massachusetts Board of Education.
He projected some great ideas into society had a great impact of a federally funded education coming into existence. With the Common School Journal helping to bring those ideas straight to the teachers.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/horace-manns-impact-on-education.html -
The Progressive Reform Movement
This was a movement with the idea that by educating everyone in a safe environment we could provide a better society in general. This movement went on until the 1920's
https://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/teachinger/glossary/progressive-era.cfm -
John Dewey
John Dewey taught us that students would learn by doing. He changed education by helping students and teacher learn together by actually doing things to learn. Encouraging exploration and being very child centered
http://study.com/academy/lesson/john-dewey-on-education-impact-theory.html -
Secondary School Movement
Starting in 1910 until about 1940 a movement started that brought high school aged student's (secondary school) on to this time in their education with the idea of educating for life rather than simply educating for college.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_school_movement -
The Impact of WW2
World War II created new needs in education as for other areas. They needed to be ready for nuclear attacks they needed to protect the baby boomer babies and prepare those kids for a technology based future.
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/world-war-ii/essays/world-war-ii-home-front -
Brown vs. Board of Education
The case taken to the supreme court where they ruled that seperate but equal education was no longer considered to be constitutional.
http://www.civilrights.org/education/brown/ -
Sputnik and NDEA, 1957-58
This Act was brought into place as a way to compete with the Soviet Union in the world of Space and technology. Providing incentives to schools and educators to encourage math science education.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Defense-Education-Act -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 1965
This act, passed by Lyndon Johnson offered federal funding for those schools who were education students who came from homes that the student had less. Creating incentives to schools to educate all children including the struggle at the time with integration.
http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-of-1965/ -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, 1975
Even though some states had rules in effect the federal government pass this act. It states that States must provide a free, appropriate public education to all disabled students, which:
Is provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without charge; http://www.edcentral.org/edcyclopedia/individuals-with-disabilities-education-act-overview/ -
A Nation at Risk Report, 1983
Ronald Regan gave a speech stating his fears of what was happening to American Education based on the fact that we had been so tunnel vision about inclusion the past few decades and that now was the time to focus on the education again.
https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html -
School Choice Movement: Charter Schools, Vouchers
Starting as early as 19898 and still going strong today a movement started where people believed that by creating competition with school there would be better options to educated our youth. Creating better teachers, programs, test score etc. by giving students and parents the right to choose where they're educated.
http://www.ncsl.org/research/education/school-choice-vouchers.aspx -
No Child Left Behind, 2001
An adjustment to the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 that hoped to make the American School System more competitive again.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/no-child-left-behind-overview-definition-summary.html
