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Noah Webster
MOST IMPORTANT. He didn't like how the English textbooks were written so he writes a series of books that included spelling, grammar, and reading to help establish the new American English. [https://www.noahwebsterhouse.org/discover/noah-webster-history.htm] -
Common School
MOST IMPORTANT. This was a movement that was advocated by Horace Mann that called for common education for all children. The common school movement is the historical period that formed the basic foundations of today's educational system. A system of state control and taxation was set up to help maintain and fund the schools, and schools were collectively attended by all children. [https://mises.org/library/common-school-movement-and-compulsory-education] -
Population Growth and Immigration in the 19th century
The immigration trend raised the school-age population by about 49% and school admissions increased by 70%. Alongside the hike in the number of students, there was also an 80% increase in the number of teachers and other school staff members. -
The Impact of Horace Mann
Horace Mann was a great advocate and spokesman for the common school movement. He established the first state board of education and served as the secretary and the chief. Mann fought to raise public awareness of the importance and needs of education as well as the responsibility of the state to provide education. He also helped raise salaries for teachers and established training organizations in his state of Massachusetts. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
The ruling of this case legalized segregation. Separate but equal still allowed blacks to go to school and live out their lives, but everything was inferior to how the whites were treated. -
Secondary School Movement
A time span from 1910 to 1940 when secondary schools developed abundantly across the U.S. When the movement started, only about 19% of 15- to 18-year-olds were attending high school. By 1940, as much as 73% were enrolled in high school. -
American Federal of Teachers
This is a labor union that primarily represents teachers. This organization developed additional sub-groups for paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff. -
The Progressive Reform Movement
This educational reform favored the curriculum to be child-centered instead of subject-centered. The child's emotional, social, and physical needs should all be taken into consideration. Education should be used to prepare the child for a democratic society. -
Educational Testing Service
Merging the College Entrance Examination Board, the Cooperative Test Service, the Graduate Records Office, the National Committee on Teachers Examinations and others, this organization became the biggest testing system in the world. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
MOST IMPORTANT. The ruling of this court case deemed segregation illegal and set the stage for the Civil Right movements that changed the nation. Most of the nation was against the ruling of the case but the passing of the Civil Right Act sped up the desegregation process. [http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/history-brown-v-board-education-re-enactment] -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
MOST IMPORTANT. This was a legislation passed by the government that had the most far-reaching effects ever to the education in the U.S. This act emphasized on funding for schools , high standards for quality education, and a goal to minimize achievement gaps. [http://educationpost.org/issues/taking-responsibility/esea-reauthorization/abcs-esea-child-left-behind/] -
Lau vs. Nichols
The ruling of this case expanded the rights of English Language Learners to receive the help they need to succeed in school. No one should be denied an equal education based on the language they speak. -
Education of All Handicapped Children Act
MOST IMPORTANT. Before the passing of the act, most children with disabilities were denied a proper education. Yes, there were some private schools that accepted students with disabilities, but most kids were kept home or in facilities. IDEA gave students with disabilities the right to education just like any other students. [http://commons.trincoll.edu/edreform/2012/05/the-education-for-all-handicapped-children-act-a-faltering-step-towards-integration/] -
A Nation at Risk Report, 1983
A report created by the National Commission on Excellence in Education that described the extreme need of high standard education in the nation. This report mandated more testing for teachers and students, longer school time, higher requirements for graduation, more focus on technology, and teachings of basic skills to all students. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The passing of this act gave parents more say in the kind of education their children were receiving, and schools made a lot more progress to ensure teachers met the teaching qualifications so that all students had a chance to receive a quality education. Even though it might seem like test scores are improving, but many schools are so focused on passing tests that the teaching content became solely focused on passing those tests.
