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Education in Colonial America (THE MOST IMPORTANT) http://study.com/academy/lesson/education-in-colonial-america.html
It is said that the Puritans who settled New England contributed "most that was of value for our future educational development." During this time, schooling first relied on private sponsors. Eventually the state became more involved and the Mass. law act of 1642 required that parents were providing children with education. This law established the principle of "compulsory education." This prioritization of education by law impacted the path of public education and the government's involvement. -
Jeffersons Impact on Public Education
Jefferson believed public education was essential to America's democracy. In order for America to reach its full potential, he believed that citizens needed to be forward thinkers who were capable of being a self-governing citizens. He proposed a bill in Virginia that would have established free schools every five to six miles. He also did not want schools under goverment supervision. He failed many times when trying to reform the American education system, but still left a lasting impact. -
Common School Movement (THE MOST IMPORTANT) http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/timeline.html
The Common School Movement is the "precursor to today's public school." The movement pushed for a tax funded, state public education system. Previously, only church groups and private schools provided the only available education. The movement developed the concept of an education system that served all of Americas' youth instead of only the elite. The common school was also to encourage a unique American culture during a time where immigrants from all over began to settle in America. -
Horace Mann Impact on Education
Known as "the father of American education", Mann was a reformer who worked to not only improve student education, but advocated "normal schools" that educated teachers to prepare their students adequately to participate in democracy. It also unified the instruction so students had the same opporunities available to them. Mann wanted education to be available to all and had a profound impact on bulding education around the ideal that education is a birth right attainable to Americas' youth. -
Secondary School Movement
The secondary school movement was a long process. It was not pushed as urgently because it wasn't being demanded by the masses. However, the need for a higher education was extremely important. Without this development, students did not receive more than a basic education and those generations would have hindered our social, economic, and political progress in America. -
The Committee of Ten
The committee of ten was composed of representatives of higher education. They gathered to unify and standardize the secondary education curriculum. A curriculum was desperately needed that prepared students for vocation. The curriculum ended up being designed around college prep classes. The committe believed that vocational training should follow high school. -
Progressivism in Education (MOST IMPORTANT) http://www.progressiveeducationnetwork.org/who-we-are/history/
Our education system SHOULD change over time and progress with society. Finally there was a reform called for making schools more "condusive to creativity." After examining the education system, reformers realized the need for operational efficiency that encouraged students to express themselelves more freely and create an enviornment where students can actually demonstrate their learning. The Progressive movement was very important in shaping education around the individual rather than content. -
Influence of World War II
World War II changed the day-to-day routine of public schools. Teachers actually left the classroom to aid on the battlefield. Even schools became focused on the war effort. Funds were reduced and high-school enrollment plummeted. However, in the postwar years-- many veteran education programs were developed to help them further their education and participate in society. -
Brown vs Board of Education (MOST IMPORTANT) http://www.nps.gov/brvb/learn/historyculture/index.htm
This court case challenged segregation in the public school systems. Before this time, there were gross inequalities that exsisted in America's education system.Segregation in schools was ruled to violate the equal protection clause. This is one of the most important events in the history of our education because now a proper education was not limited to one race. The impact on education was so enormous, that it influenced society culturally, socially, and politically from that point forward. -
Sputnik and NDEA
in Oct 1957, Sputnik launched and the U.S. was paranoid that they were losing the cold war due to a shortage in professional teachers, engineers, and students. This caused the federal govt to pass the NDEA act. This funneled the federal funding into specific curricular areas. This influenced the elementary and secondary education systems by emphasizing the skills America thought was the most important at the time -
Education and the War on Poverty (THE MOST IMPORTANT)
Poor education perpetuates the cycle of poverty. In order to combat the major issue of poverty in the early 1960's, JFK and Lyndon B Johnson made major changes to accommodate inner city schools by expanding welfare services, subsidize low income housing, etc. Education decreases poverty because it provides skills to participate in society beyond school so students can reach middle class economic status and make a better life for themselves. Education is the most important tool to combat poverty. -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act
The IDEA act of 1975 was a huge civil rights victory for students with disabilities. This act made accomidations that ensured disabled students would have the same access to education as everybody else. Disabled students are now more inclusive in the classroom environment because of this legislation. -
"A Nation At Risk" report https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html
President Ronald Reagan was another political leader who saw education as essential to a Nations success. He published this report in 1983 to address our failing education system. Reagan uses hard data to show the current state of under-performance in comparison to other nations. He fears for our future prosperity if education is not made a priority. The publication was a wake up call to Americans to raise the expectations in our education systems. -
School-choice movement
This movement gave opportunities for alternative methods of schooling other than enrolling in the public education system. It is important to accommodate learners and to have more choice associated with where our children are educated. In the 90's, charter schools were publically supported schools that were "established upon issuance of a charter from the state." -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
A major piece of legislation declaring that each state was required to test students to make sure they are meeting the state testing standards. The main goal was to ensure that all children get a fair and equal opportunity to receive a quality education and make sure that students progress with the knowledge they need moving forward in the education system
