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Noah Webster (Most Important)
Noah Webster published his book, "Blue Back Speller" in 1783. This book taught school children how to spell and pronounce American words. He thought that children needed to be taught American literature, not British literature. Noah Webster had, and still has, a significant impact on education because he defined the American language- he was the first person to write a book that defined the American language.
https://www.noahwebsterhouse.org/discover/noah-webster-history.htm -
Thomas Jefferson 1778-1817 (Most Important)
He tried three times for his bill, the More General Diffusion of Knowledge to be passed. He kept pushing for public schooling. He believed that public education was essential to democracy. He also believed that everyone should have the opportunity to receive an education even if that person was a farmer. His is significant to education because he started the argument for public education.
https://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/bill-more-general-diffusion-knowledge -
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Secondary School Movement
The Secondary School Movement started with high schools only being for boys. These high schools were originally meant to provide a practical education. Because of the success these high schools had, it eventually led to a high school for girls -
Horace Mann (Most Important)
Horace Mann was the first secretary of education.He road from district to district to check each school's quality. He is significant to education because he saw that most schools were in terrible conditions and so he petitioned for Common Schools. He wanted taxes to pay for public education. He thought that schools should give each student an equal chance for life and that schools should be free of charge. He started the evolution of schools.
http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/horace.html -
Common Schools
Common schools were the idea that schools should be public and free. Meaning that public schools would be funded by taxes and that they would be open to all children. These common schools were meant to provide an education that supported children equally. -
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Progressive Reofrm Movement
Focused on whole child, grounding education in the real world, preparing child to fully participate in democracy society and physical as well as academic training -
Committee Of Ten
The National Education Association formed the Committee of Ten in 1892. The Committee of Ten recommended that students should take all four subjects (classical, Latin-scientific, modern language, and scientific) and they should meet four to five times a week to study. This view was challenged by many. -
John Dewey
John Dewey is known as the "Father of Progressive Education". He wrote a book in 1899 called, The School and Society. His book went against the school system and stated that schools should focus on the whole child. If schools focused on the whole child, learning would be easier and the education system would become better. -
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Impact of World War II
World War II caused high dropout rates in schools and enrollment rates declined as well. Both teachers and students left school to enlist in the army. The budget for education was also cut because funding was going towards the army efforts. -
Brown vs Board of Education (Most Important)
The Brown vs Board of Education was a Supreme Court case arguing that segregation did not provide equal education to all. The court ruled that segregation was in fact, not equal for all, and therefore schools will no longer be segregated. This is significant to the history of education because it allowed for all, including African American's, to receive a free public education.
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
Elementary and Secondary Educaition Act
Provided more than 1 billion dollars in federal funding towards education, this act provided funds for elementary and secondary education and emphasizes high standards and accountability -
Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a movement whose goal was to end segregation, discrimination based on race, and most importantly the Civil Rights Movement was trying to obtain equality for all. Martin Luther King Jr. was a huge part and leader in the Civil Rights Movement. -
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEA is an act that was put in place for individuals with disabilities. This act states that any individual with a disability has the right to a free and appropriate public education. -
Nation at Risk
President Ronald Reagan made a national announcement stating that our nation is at risk because of our education system. Because of this announcement standardized tests became popular and higher standards were implemented into schools, especially for graduation requirements. -
No Child Left Behind(Most Important)
This law (implemented by President George Bush) is an addition to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This law states that each state is required to test students in reading and math in grades 3–8 and once again in high school. This law is significant to education because it caused more standardized testing that each state had to develop and implement in their schools.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/schools/nochild/nclb.html
