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Massachusetts School Law of 1642 + Dame Schools
Dame Schools were makeshift schools where children would go to be taught by women; often times these were used as early daycare centers in a way. Massachusetts School Law of 1642 stated that children were required to be taught to read and write. It was believed, by Puritans, that the well-being of people depended on their individual ability to read and write (mainly the Bible and the Laws). -
Normal Schools
The first publicly funded Normal School was founded in Lexington, Massachusetts in 1839. Normal Schools was a post-secondayry education facility that was focused on training elementary teachers. -
John Dewey and Progressive Education
Dewey argued for schools to reflect social community, to relate the curriculum to real life experiences, and teach communication/cooperation skills vital to being engaged in democratic social life. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas declared the mandatory segregation of schools unconstitutional. The ruling didn't directly lead to the desegregation of all schools but was a huge step forward. -
Programmed Instruction
The teaching machine, invented by B.F. Skinner was a major role in the idea of programmed instruction in the 1950's. It allowed the student to recieve immediate feedback on progress and they'd be able to learn at their own pace. This definitely started the ball rollling for the use of technology in classrooms today. -
ESEA Part II
The 2001 reauthorization focuses more on the quality of education rather than the 1965 version focusing on inequality. ESEA requires annual statewide testing, public reporting of school performance, penalties for failing to make yearly progress, and testing of prospective teachers.
