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Education in the Colonial Period
Children had education based mostly on the Protestant religion. They had horn books with the alphabet and a prayer written on them. This was basically a glorified day care that charged a small fee. -
The Impact of Thomas Jefferson
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Jefferson wanted universal education for all children for at least 3 years. Jefferson knew that democracy depended on education. This was a very radical idea. Click to learn more. -
Common Schools
*Most important
Common Schools would provide a common body of knowledge to each student giving that student an equal chance at life. It would be free for the rich or poor. It would be funded by tax dollars, and was vigorously opposed at first. Click to learn more. -
Impact of Horace Mann
Horace Mann was a politician who became the first secretary of the board of education. He wrote reports on schools in different places on their physical appearances. He wanted to make schools look good and have good teacher training so that people would want to use them. -
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Frederick Douglas's Role in Education
Frederick Douglas convinced other black people that education was an honorable thing. It was the key to freedom. Education became a part of a freedom struggle. -
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The Progressive Reform Movement
Too many American children were living in drudgery and working in factories. It was decided that children needed to go to school. -
First Legal Case Concerning Integration and Sarah Roberts
Sarah Roberts had to travel a long way to get to a school that was not very good because of her race. Her father tried to enroll her in a closer school for white people, and was rejected. He took it to court and lost despite the investigation of the run down Smith School. -
Impact of John Dewey
*Most important
John Dewey attacked the way school was being taught. He was the father of progressive education. He believed that schools should care about the whole child, and that children should learn by doing. Click to learn more. -
The Gary Plan
In Gary Indiana, there was a school that made sure kids were busy all the time and moved from class to class. Work, study, play was their motto. Gary schools were open at night and on weekends for adults. Many saw this school as a way to prepare kids for factory jobs, not "better" professions. -
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The Impact of WWII
Children were all generally in school at this time. They had to learn what to do in case of a nuclear attack, and they learned how to help with the war. -
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Impact of the Civil Rights Movement
Schools didn't want to integrate. Many black people didn't want integration either because it would mean sending their children into hostile environments. After segregation was made illegal, many black teachers lost their jobs even though many were more qualified than white teachers. -
Brown v. Board of Education
*Most important
Segregation was legal as long as it was actually equal. However, the schools were not equal. The court's unanimous decision was to end segregation in public schools because it was clearly unequal. Over 30,000 black teachers were misplaced from their jobs as a result. Click to learn more. -
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Impact of the War on Poverty
LBJ cut off funds to schools when they refused to integrate. Schools needed this funding, so they were forced into integration. -
National Risk Report
The president made a Nation at Risk Report. He wanted to let public schools compete with each other to make all schools better. Decline in economy was blamed on schools. -
The Standards Movement
*Most important
Standardized testing was born to make sure students were learning what they were supposed to. More courses in traditional courses were given, longer school days, more homework, and sports teams and extra curricular teams required good grades. Click to learn more.
