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Boston Latin School Founded
Boston Latin School was the first public school in the United States (National Geographic, 2020). As noted on MassMoments.org, Colonial Massachusetts was among the first to make student education the responsibility of the public (MassMoments.org, para. 2). This set the standard for public education in the United States.
image: (Boston Latin School, n.d.) -
The founding of kindergarten
This simple kindergarten of five students would change the standards of when children start school. According to the Watertown Historical Society, Phoebe Hearst later opened a kindergarten in Lead, South Dakota and financed the Parent-Teachers' Association to promote the kindergarten movement (Watertown Historical Society, para.11). This movement soon spread, eventually resulting in the kindergarten we know today.
image: (Unger, 1956) -
The Morrill Land Act (1862)
According to the National Archives, this act made it possible for western states to establish colleges for their citizens. This opened up opportunities for farmers and others who, before, were excluded from higher education (National Archives, Act of July 2, 1862 (Morrill Act)).
image: (Act of July 2, 1862 (Morrill Act). General Records of the United States Government; National Archives) -
Brown V. Board of Education
The court ruling in this case was significant because it brought to an end the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision to segregate schools. The court decided that segregation was unconstitutional. The USCourts.gov quotes Chief Justice Warren as stating, "We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal..." (USCourts.gov, para.14).
image: (Brown v. Board of Education (1954). n.d.) -
No Child Left Behind Act (2001)
This act was significant because it was the first time the government got involved in education. According to Alyson Klein (2015), the NCLB Act "significantly increased the federal role in holding schools responsible for the academic progress of all students" (Klein, 2015, para.). The requirements of this act led to regular, standardized testing from grades 3-8 and once again in high school that we see today.
image: (NCLB_0. (n.d.).)
