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Common Schools
Only the larger cities were required to have school. Only the well-off were educated and were educated using protestant beliefs. -
The Blue-Backed Speller
Webster published the blue-backed speller in 1783 designed to teach kids about America. He created it to seperate American English from British English. It was a fore-runner for the webster dictionary, which is a very important tool for education. -
Thomas Jefferson
The most important: Thomas Jefferson believed a democracy’s survival depended on the nation’s education. In 1778 he drafted a proposal that guaranteed at least 3 years of public education and then possibly more. It was to be entirely paid for by tax dollars. Between 1778 and 1819 his proposals failed 3 times. Although his proposals failed then, I believe this was the first glimpse and an important push to get us to where we are today. Although instead of 3 years its 13. -
Horace Mann
Horace Mann was the first secretary of the Board of Education. Durning the 1830s-1840s he road town to town looking into schools and writing reports of their condition. He Concluded that the state took better care of their livestock then the schools and their kids. -
Bible Riots
The public schools were primarily protestant but many Irish-Catholic’s were demanding part of the public school funds. In protest to this a Catholic church was burned down in Philadelphia. -
School and Society
In 1899 John Dewey published “The School and Society”. This addressed the idea that schools and teachers should focus on the overall development of the students. This in influenced a generation of Progressive Reformers in education. -
Educating Immigrants
1890-1920 brought thousands of children from different countries. All though some classes were taught in native languages children were disciplined for not speaking English. They were taught how to be an American at school. -
Post WWII
Post WWII the schools now prepared students for nuclear bomb attacks. More kids were graduating about three out of five and about fifty percents were going to college. -
Civil Rights Movement
Schools were segregated, there was a black school and a white school. Segregation was legal so long as it was “separate but equal” but it was never equal. Also women were not allowed to do a lot of things. The start of the civil rights movement was so important and has a lot to do with where we are today in schools. The fight for equality will never be over. -
Brown vs. Board
On May 17, 1954 in the civil rights case Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas the Supreme Court ruled that segregation of public schools was in violation of the 14th amendment. This was the end of “separate but equal”. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This Act gave the largest support for public schools ever. It provides money and assistance poor schools and communities with the kids who needed it. Funds would be cut off if schools had not integrated. -
Individuals with Disabilities Act
This act was to ensure every child a free and appropriate education despite any disability. Before this kids with disabilities had to go to a special school or not receive an education at all. This was a very important moment in educational history, the push for inclusion among all students has made better education available to all students. -
A Nation at Risk
It said our education or lack of would be our county’s undoing. We were losing out to other countries. It said we were not preparing our students for their future. This created a big push for a better education. Athletes and after school activities required better grades for participation. This had a big impact on today’s education, the bar has been raised. -
No Child Left Behind
This law was passed to ensure that all children will be able to meet the education standards of the state where they live. Resources and requirements were given to each district to help them meet these goals. -
Sputnik
Sputnik was the first satellite to orbit the earth. This historical accomplishment by the Soviets created a push in science education in the US. It made people both excited and scared.
