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Massachusetts Bay Colony
The General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony decrees that every town of fifty families should have an elementary school and that every town of 100 families should have a Latin school. The goal is to ensure that Puritan children learn to read the Bible and receive basic information about their Calvinist religion. -
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Purpose of Schools
Until 1839 early public schools in the United States did not focus on academics like math or reading. Instead they taught the virtues of family, religion, and community. Girls were usually taught how to read but not how to write in early America. Also, depending on where you live in the country during this time determines if you receive instruction on reading and writing. -
Horace Mann
Father of Public Education -
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Common School Era
A VA man named, Horace Mann, believed education should be universal, non-sectarian, free, and that its aims should be social efficiency, civic virtue, and character, rather than mere learning or the advancement of education ends. Horace believed education was a right that should be given to the masses and not just those who could afford the tutors. He became the first secretary of education and worked to increase funding and provide teacher training. -
Immigration and Assimilation
As immigration increases in U.S common schools are seen as a way to integrate foreign born children both socially and morally. Native Americans are grouped as 'foreign' and forced to attend boarding schools that started in 1879 where they are to attend church, learn English and punished for speaking native languages. Many people today view this as cultural genocide. Naturalization Act of 1906 says in order to be considered a citizen you have to speak, read and write in English. -
Progressive Education Movement
John Dewey believed in pragmatics over morals when teaching students in a school setting. He believed in the social and emotional health of students realizing that experiences constitute a lot of what is learned in life. The movement is still alive today. -
Equal Pay for Black Teachers
Alston v School District of Norfolk. Court ruled in favor of Alston stating the School Board's use of a racially discriminatory salary schedule was a condition that violated black teachers' rights under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Pre cursor to Brown v Education. -
Free and Reduced Lunch Program
Signed by President Harry Truman, The National School Lunch Act provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. -
Educational Testing Service
Educational Testing Service is formed with huge grants from Rockefeller and Carnegie foundation. These testing services continued the work of eugenicists like Carl Brigham (originator of the SAT) who did research "proving" that immigrants were feeble-minded. -
Brown v Board of Education of Topeka
The Supreme Court unanimously agrees that segregated schools are "inherently unequal" and must be abolished. Ironically, almost 45 years later in 1998, schools, especially in the north, are as segregated as ever. -
Teacher of the Deaf Act
The Teacher of the Deaf Act is
enacted. It is designed to train
teachers to educate students
who are hard of hearing or deaf. This act establishes a two year program to assist in training additional teachers for the deaf. -
Elementary and Secondary Education School Act
Congress passes the Elementary and Secondary Education School
Act, providing aid to secondary and primary schools and helping
educate poor children. -
School Breakfast Program
The School Breakfast Program pilot is launched. It becomes
permanent in 1975. -
Bilingual Education Act
Congress passes the Bilingual Education Act, providing the first funding to encourage schools to incorporate native-language
education in their curriculum. It was the first United States federal legislation recognizing the needs of limited English speaking students. -
Education of All Handicapped Children Act
Education of All Handicapped Children Act was enacted by Congress in 1975. This act required all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal access to education and one free meal a day for children with physical and mental disabilities. -
US Dept. Education
US Dept. Education is established under the Department of Education Organization Act. The primary functions of the Department of Education are to establish policy for, administer and coordinate most federal assistance to education, collect data on US schools, and to enforce federal educational laws regarding privacy and civil rights. The Department of Education does not establish schools or colleges. -
Tribal Colleges
Tribal colleges are located on or near Indian reservations and provide access to post-secondary education, accredited degrees, and vocational training for both Indian and non-Indian students. Navajo Community College, now called Diné College, the first tribal college, was founded on the reservation in Tsaile, Arizona, in 1968 and accredited in 1979. -
Proposition 187
Proposition 187 passes in California, making it illegal for children of undocumented immigrants to attend public school. Federal courts hold Proposition 187 unconstitutional, but anti-immigrant feeling spreads across the country. -
California Prop 227
Effectively ends bilingual education in California. The purpose was to educate English Language Learners in a rapid, one year program. After 20 yrs, studies show the performance gap between English learners and native English speakers remained consistent. -
No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind is the name for the most recent update to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Under the 2002 law, states are required to test students in reading and math in grades 3–8 and once in high school. The major focus of No Child Left Behind is to close student achievement gaps by providing all children with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. Evidence shows no improvements have been made. -
References
https://www.raceforward.org/research/reports/historical-timeline-public-education-us
https://isminc.com/pdf/free/administrators-faculty/history_education.pdf
https://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/Ready-Reference/Legislative-Summary-Main-Page/Education.aspx
http://www.littlejohnexplorers.com/jeff/brown/equalization.htm
