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Period: to
History of Education p
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Colonial Education
Before education was made available to all children, parents would pool money and resources to fund a local school and hire a teacher. These schools were usually attended by youth from wealthier families. Protestant values were of major importance in most early schools. -
Websters Blue-Backed Speller
Noah Webster published the American Spelling Book. One of the first text books, the book has never been out of print. Found in classrooms across America, this book was the base for knowledge and learning at the end of the 18th century. -
The Northwest Ordinance
This ordinance set up the settling of lands in what is now known as the Mid-West. In every township that was created, space for a school was required. This put education at the forefront of westward expansion. By requiring land for a school, the government made sure schools would be relatively close to those that chose to move west. -
***Horace Mann
***Horace Mann worked to reform education in the U.S. He traveled to over 1,000 schools to catalog, critique, and gain an idea of what schools needed to do to become more productive across the land. He suggested changing from benches to chairs and desks. Making curriculum more standard across the schools. Training educators was another act which Mann was responsible. The idea of taxing all to pay for the education of the children was also set in place by Mann. Standardization is still seen today -
The growth of education after the Civil War, 1870-1890
Education began to take a precedence again after the Civil War. During the war most education had ceased, especially in the South. Moving into the industrial and gilded ages saw more and more people moving to cities. Children who weren't working in factories were closer to schools than they may have been in the frontier. -
***John Dewey
Father of the Progressive Movement. He focused on all aspects of a child. Social, intellectual, emotional, and physical development he believed teaching and learning would be different from current methods of teaching. One goal included taking children out of the labor pool and educating them in schools. These plans worked and the number of kids in education continued to grow. beginging of modern cirriculum. -
***The Gary Plan
One of the most progressive school plans in history. In 1906 Gary Indiana was home to the largest steel mill in the country. Superintendant William Wert was in charge of the schools of the town. One of the first schools where students would progress from one classroom to another, the modern secondary schools were formed. The plan is important because it focused on making the students well rounded including reading and writing, Birth of modern high schools. -
Immigrants
Twenty two million immigrants between 1890 and 1930 moved to the Unites States, including 3 million children. Schools became so crowded in cities students were only able to attend part time. School was not yet attainable for all children. In 1910 it is estimated that 2 million children were in the workforce instead of the schoolhouse. -
*** Brown vs Board of Education
Supreme court decision that "separate but equal" was inherently unequal. Started the process of desegregation of schools. Regarded as one of the best moments in education in the 20th century. Schools would now be more equal and began to give students of all races equal opportunity. One downside of the court ruling, black teachers were displaced. This began a long integration proccess still used today as desegregation. -
The Impact of the Civil Rights Movement
The movement combines aspects from the Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954 all the way to the IDEA of 1975. Much was done in the way of legislation, as well as the court systems to bring rights to all Americans in the 20th century. One thing I found important is it took individuals to decide to actually stand up and fight against the tyranny in order to improve the educational conditions in the nation. -
Lindon B. Johnson
LBJ wanted to make it easier for the children to gain educations. He championed several movements, including low cost student loans for college bound youth. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 also lead to making discrimination based on race to be illegal for any federally funded program, including education. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 1965
Provided 4 billion dollars to aid disadvantaged students in just four years. Tying federal funds to desegregation and the teaching underprivileged students was a way to coerce schools who were not conforming to come into line with national requirements for desegregation. -
School Choice Movement: Charter Schools, Vouchers 1974
The idea was to create specialized schools students (or their parents) wanted to attend. Specializing in sports, theatre, or even highly traditional (suit and tie) schools. Creating a motivation for the students to connect with is the goal of the different schools, while raising academic standards. -
***Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, 1975
Finally allowing students with disabilities to gain an education according to their ability. Education the students in the "least restrictive environment" meant students were taken out of separate institutions and into standard public schools. What many found was that many of these students were highly capable of higher thought and reasoning and a more regular education helped facilitate that level of learning. Today more than ever, special needs students are learning in standard classrooms. -
A Nation at Risk Report
Focused on a failure to strive for excellence. The idea was to allow private schools to compete with public education. The move would make schools compete like the rest of Americas capitalist markets.
