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First Education Laws: Massachusetts Important
Massachusetts was one of the first places to make education a public responsibility.This law provided for the hiring of a teacher for the children of the community. This law laid the groundwork for the future public education movements in the United States.
https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details/massachusetts-passes-first-education-law.html -
Impact of Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson felt that education was essential to democracy. he pushed for 3 years of free public schooling but was denied. -
The Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance spelled out the American plans for western expansion. New townships were laid out contained one section in each township that was set aside as land for schools and the promotion of education. -
Beecher-Women teaching
Beecher felt that teaching should be a women's profession. Women went to college to learn how to teach at the Hartford Female Seminary -
Noah Webster Blue Back Speller Important
Noah Webster was known as the Schoolmaster of America. He felt the need to eliminate all British textbooks and wrote the Blue Back Speller book. Webster focused on spelling and pronunciation, helping to standardize many words that remain in usage today. This book is still in print today.
http://webstersdictionary1828.com/NoahWebster -
Horace Mann
Horace Mann visited schools and wrote about their physical conditions. He lobbied for free education which led to common schools that taught a common body of knowledge -
Growth of education after Civil War
4 million slaves became free to become literate and go to school. Even older African Americans came to learn. -
John Dewey and progressive reform movement
John Dewey wrote his book " Democracy and Education. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education." Dewey advocated for education that helped to further the cause of democracy. Dewey believed that education should be child centered and that children learned by doing. -
Brown vs. Board of Education Important
This Supreme Court decision ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional. African-American students no longer were required to attend all-black schools. Although this decision was mostly beneficial for students, many black teachers lost their jobs.
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
Elementary and secondary education act important
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. It provided $1 billion in funding for schools in at-risk areas. It provided funding for the Head Start program. The ESEA still funds education in low-income areas.
https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-of-1965/ -
School choice movement
Smaller, personalized public schools were opened to raise academic achievement. There was more competition which drove schools to do better. Failing schools would be shut down. -
A Nation at Risk
A Nation At Risk" was a report issued by the Reagan administration that assessed the state of American education. The report made reccomendations for improvements including better pay and training for teachers, higher standards for graduation and more emphasis on excellence and technology. -
The Standards movement
The standard movement raise the standards to graduate and instilled longer days and longer years for schools. Computer literacy was also instilled in the classrooms along with high stakes testing. -
Individuals with Disabilities Act Important Important
The IDEA provided free appropriate educations to individuals with disabilities. The law protected the rights of those with disabilities. It also guarantees access int he physical sense and in curriculum to those with disabilities.
https://sites.ed.gov/idea/about-idea/ -
No Child Left Behind important
The NCLB act funds money for low income education in exchange for higher levels of education. This was an attempt to raise the bar of education for certain bodies of students who were falling behind. Schools must perform at a certain levels and show improvement to receive money.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/no-child-left-behind-overview-definition-summary.html
