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18th century schools were smaller in size and number. Country schools were usually less occupied with farming kids due to harvest and other responsibilities. Normally, wealthier families didn't send their children to country schools. Instead, they hired tutors to instruct every sibling. -
In the late 1700s, Protestant worship in the New World brought new ways of praise. This included singing along in church. However, few knew anything of rhythm, pitch, or tempo. This made listening abysmal. By the early 1800s, a group of green university grads decided to travel from town to town, teaching congregations basic music skills. This eventually went beyond the church and Singing Schools became relevant. Here students, rich or poor, studied solfege music for 3-4 weeks under a master. -
Joseph Lancaster started monitor schools in Europe and his ideas eventually spread to the New World during the early 1800s. Monitor schools involved using academically successful students to aide the teacher during the school day. Monitor students had responsibilities to keep their group of students caught up in their work, ready to advance, and classroom materials managed. -
The Southern Harmony was a musical book/pamphlet widely sold and used famously at singing schools.
Internet Archive
^^an online digital copy of the book^^ -
Lowell Mason, a music school instructor, successfully convinced Boston Public Schools to incorporate music and theory as a part of their curriculum. -
Horace Mann, Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, suggested modern public school systems when he edited The Common School Journal. This set of ideas began a trend in changing the way current school systems were working, including the end of monitor schools. -
The 14th Amendment faced a lot of controversies as it addressed equal rights to all in America under the equal protection law. This was meant to include African Americans. However, legal segregation stemmed from this amendment. (This will affect the education of African Americans). -
Lowell Mason, the instigator in public musical education, died at the age of 80.
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Almanzo Wilder and Laura Ingalls (a young teacher) attended a small singing school together in South Dakota. The two would eventually marry and Laura would become known for writing The Little House on the Prairie. -
The court case the ruled the "Jim Crow" laws, which explained the "separate but equal" ideal. This ideal cleared the way for legally segregated schools and other public buildings. -
Made teaching evolution as a part of the curriculum a misdemeanor in Tennessee. -
John Scopes, a science teacher from Tennessee, was caught using the theory of evolution in class shortly after the Butler Act passed. This led to the major trial of Bryan v Darrow. This was coined the "Monkey Trial" even though it would be Bryan, the Biblical stance, that would initially win.
(Youtube: History Channel) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJoZrJknJJE]
^^link to the summarization of the Monkey Trial^^ -
Oliver Brown, began to argue that colored schools were not equal to white schools. Therefore, he built the argument up to the segregation of all buildings (including schools) is going against the 14 Amendment. Brown's arguments were motivated by his daughter, an elementary-aged black girl who had to walk past many white schools before reaching her underrun colored school. Brown vs Board of Education ended with Brown gaining the victory, and segregation ruled as unconstitutional.