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Education in the Colonial Period
Some children went to Dame school (an early form of Elementary school) where they learned letters and discipline. Most schooling was closely linked to the Protestant bible with the most common book being the New England Primer. -
The Impact of Jefferson, Rush and Webster 1776
All three of these men felt that America was in dire need of an educational reform. They felt that schools needed to be built and students needed to be taught writing, reading, arithmetic and more to grow up to be useful members of society. -
Common Schools 1837-1848
MOST IMPORTANT
These were early public schools developed by Horace Mann. It was a free school system that would be entirely funded by tax dollars and give all students an equal chance. This event is significant because we still have public schools today that are funded by tax dollars. Horace Mann created a system that is still largely in effect. [https://mises.org/library/common-school-movement-and-compulsory-education] -
Horace Mann 1837
MOST IMPORTANT
He was the first secretary of education and the creator of common schools. He spent his time improving public schools and traveling around to visit 1000 schools in 6 years. This is significant because he created the common schools and had a huge impact on bettering education. We still use many of the things we associate with school, blackboards, chairs with backs and standardized textbooks today, because of him. [http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/horace.html] -
Impact of John Dewey 1859-1952
MOST IMPORTANT He is associated with the alternative to traditional education known as child or learner child education. He believed that education should be based off the principle of learning through doing. This is significant because he established revolutionary ideas about teaching and education that are still fundamentally important today. His ideas were so influential and we still place an emphasis on hands on learning and being engaged today. [http://www.iep.utm.edu/dewey/] -
Committee of 10
A committee of professors that recommended the standardization of American High School curriculum. -
Population Growth and Immigration in the 19th Century
With all the people coming over from Europe, the schools in the U.S. were very overcrowded. Schools had to change curriculum to assimilate these children into society better so they could learn English and the laws of the land. -
Impact of WWII on Education 1939-1942
WWII effected education in several ways. It took several teachers away from the schools to go and fight and it imposed new demands upon students for vocational preparation and "Education for Victory" programs to name a few. -
Brown vs. Board of Education 1954
MOST IMPORTANT A landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. This is significant because it helped start the Civil Rights movement and gain equal education for all. With help from this trial, we have integrated schools today, where everyone has the opportunity for equal education. [http://www.civilrights.org/education/brown/??referrer=https://www.google.com/] -
School Choice Movement 1955
Milton Friedman contended that tax dollars should follow the child, allowing parents to choose the school that best fits their child’s unique needs. His proposal, which came to be known as school vouchers, was based on his belief that choice in schooling will “create effective competition and improve performance in education, all to the eventual benefit of children, parents, educators, taxpayers and the society at large.” -
Sputnik and NDEA 1957-1958
In 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched the first man made satellite into space. President Eisenhower then signed the National Defense Education Act which served to give education technology not only funding, but a mission to progress education in the name of national security and science. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act 1965
This act was passed as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" that provided funding to local school districts to improve the academic achievement of disadvantaged students. It has been the most far reaching federal legislation affecting education ever passed by the United States Congress. -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, 1975
MOST IMPORTANT A law ensuring that children with disabilities have the opportunity to receive an education just like any other child. This law governs how state and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services. Before this law was put into effect, these children did not go to school and were often hidden away. This law is still in effect and because of it students are ensured a proper education. http://www.apa.org/about/gr/issues/disability/idea.aspx -
The Standards Movement 1980's
This reform movement called for clear and measurable standards for all students. Rather than norm-referenced rankings, a standards-based system measures each student against the concrete standard. Curriculum, assessments, and professional development are aligned to the standards as well. -
A Nation at Risk 1983
The Imperative for Educational Reform is the 1983 report of American President Ronald Reagan's National Commission on Excellence in Education. The report contributed to the ever-growing assertion that American schools were failing so several new standards and requirements were set into effect for students.
