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Colonial Period
Most schools during this time were protestant based. The laws in Massachusetts gave the state responsibility to oversee that students were enrolled in schools and what was being taught in those schools. Teachers were often men who couldn't make a living doing anything else, and they were often very strict with the students. School was very expensive. -
William Penn
William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, thought that all children should have the opportunity to be educated for free. In 1683 the Pennsylvania assembly decided that children should have instruction in reading, writing, and a useful trade or skill. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson wrote a bill for the Virginia Legislature that would provide students with 3 years of free education that would give them the necessary skills to "ensure good government, public safety, and happiness." (Webb, Metha, Jordan 2010) Jefferson wanted to educate the rich and the poor. This bill also called for a public school in each district of the state. This bill was ultimately defeated because the wealthy citizens didn't want to pay for the education of the poor. -
Noah Webster
Noah Webster believed that American education should be about patriotism. He believed that it should be free from influences of European influence.He wrote the "Elementary Spelling Book" that was nicknamed the Blue-backed Speller, and it quickly sold many millions of copies. It is still in print today. -
Troy Female Seminary
Emma Willard opened the Troy Female seminary in 1821. She was a lifelong activist for women and wanted women to have a chance at a solid education. -
Horace Mann
Horace Mann"The Father of Education" and a spokesman for the common school movement. He wrote many reports of the common school movement in his own state of Massachusetts that influenced the growth of schools throughout the country. He raised a lot of money for public education and rode many miles checking on the schools. He made sure that families were sending their kids to school and fought to raise teacher salaries. He also fought to ensure that teachers were properly trained. -
Roberts vs. Boston
This was the first lawsuit against separate but equal schools. Many African-Americans didn't support it, wondering what kind of education their children would get from a white teacher. The ruling was against the Roberts' family. -
Secondary School Growth
By 1860 the idea of the secondary school was growing. The immigration population was starting to swell, and there were millions of children who were seeking education. -
Population Surge
Around 1900 the population grew so much that the number of teacher required doubled. In fact it went from 200,000 teachers to 400,000 teachers. School was now required and immigrants were coming to this country so their children could get a free education. -
The New Deal
President Franklin D Roosevelt signed "The New Deal" in 1933. This was the first time that the federal government stepped in and helped fund the schools. They built new schools and helped unemployed teachers. They started an adult education program that helped thousands of adults learn to read. Another great thing to come from the new deal was the school lunch program. -
Brown vs Board of Education (Topeka)
Brown vs. Board of Education Topeka was a landmark case that ruled in favor of integrating schools. The ruling said that separate was not equal and was a first step in creating equality for African-American students. After this ruling, there was not a lot of change implemented. Changes took place very slowly, but in terms of the law, the opportunity was finally available. -
NDEA
National Defense Education Act was the federal government's answer to their fear of losing the Cold War with Russia. They blamed the curriculum that was being taught in schools, and wanted to fix it. The NDEA put more focus on math, science and modern foreign languages in the curriculum. It created a reform to what was being taught in schools. -
The Civil Rights Act
More than ten years after Brown vs. Board of Education schools were still segregated. Very little progress had been made toward desegregation. The federal government passed the Civil Rights act and it promised to withhold federal funding from any establishment receiving funds who were violating the act. It was a huge blow to public schools who were holding out on desegregation. -
The Carrot and the Stick
The War on Poverty produced increased federal funding towards education. Funding increased from $2.0 billion in 1965 to $4.9 billion in 1970. The government called this the carrot and the stick because if the schools agreed to desegregate, they would get more funding (the carrot). If they decided to continue with segregation, they would not receive any more federal funding (the stick). This quickly resulted in 91% of black students integrated into white schools. -
IDEA
1975 was another time of great change for American schools. The Education for all Handicapped Children act was passed. This act brought a lot handicapped children out of institutions and put them in schools. This act was later changed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) it changed the way we thought about education for disabled children. It allowed them equal access to education.
