-
Boston Latin School is Established
The first public school in the New World was opened in Boston Massachusetts. It was a college preparatory school where the curriculum focused on the grammar of Latin and Greek and humanities. -
Creation of Dame Schools for Girls
Between the 17th and 18th centuries, dame schools rise in popularity. These schools allowed young girls to learn household tasks and chores that were expected of women at the time.
YouTube -
The Stono Rebellion
The Stono Rebellion takes place between a group of slaves that banded together as an act of defiance against slavery. This rebellion resulted in stricter slave laws including banning music, prohibiting slaves from commuting as large groups, and anti-literacy laws. -
Indian Civilization Act of 1819
The Indian Civilization Act is enacted to "save" Native American children by assimilating them into typical European culture by enrolling them in boarding schools. This act led to the mental and physical torture of many Native students. -
Eduard Séguin Begins Teaching at Randall's Island School for Mental Defectives
Eduard Séguin, considered the first great special education teacher, began working with mentally handicapped children. He believed there could be physiological treatment for mental handicaps, and his work became the basis of special education in Europe and America. -
The Carlisle Indian School is Opened
Carlisle Indian School is opened with the intent to "kill the Indian" and "save the man." Native American students were enrolled at this boarding school and suffered mentally and physically while they were forced to assimilate into white culture.
PBS -
Plessy vs. Ferguson Legalizes "Separate but Equal"
Homer Plessy argues that "separate but equal" is unconstitutional after seating himself in a white compartment on a train. The court disagreed, and therefore segregation is legalized in the United States. -
The Willowbrook State School Opens
The New York State Department of Mental Hygiene opened the Willowbrook State School for people with mental disabilities. Inhumane treatment and conditions were common, and students were subject to mental horror and overstimulation. Outsiders compared the living situation at Willowbrook to that of an overcrowded zoo.
Viewer Discretion Advised
YouTube -
Nuclear Safety Education
As tensions rose between the Soviet Union and the United States, the threat of nuclear war loomed overhead. As a result, students begin practicing "duck and cover" drills in school as a way to protect themselves from nuclear demise.
YouTube -
Brown vs. Board of Education Outlaws Segregation in Schools
60 years after segregation is legalized, a new court case is reviewed and Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren and the other justices unanimously ruled that segregation in public schools was a violation of the 14th amendment. -
The Space Race Begins
The Soviet Union launches Sputnik I into space. As a result, the American scientists and government don't want to seem inferior to the Soviets, so they emphasize the importance of math and science in education, hoping to compete with Russia to get Americans into space. To learn more about the space race, check out this interactive learning activity.
PBS -
"A Nation at Risk" is Published
"A Nation at Risk" is published by the National Commission on Excellence in Education depicting that a lack of a common core curriculum was killing the United States' future. As a result, a standards movement sweeps across the United States requiring to have stricter graduation requirements. -
Racial Bias in Education in the Present
Bias still exists in education today, and these biases often correlate to achievement gaps between white students and minorities. White students are more likely to be given an upper hand in their journey toward success. Take the quiz below to see how your privilege has affected where you've ended up in life. Then, compare your results to the results of others.
PBS