Important Dates in Early Childhood History

  • Feb 9, 1455

    The Gutenberg Bible is printed

    Library of Congress Gutenberg Bible The first major book ever printed, this book began bringing the printed word to everyone.
  • School Establishment Act

    Origins of Compulsary Education Scotland enacts the first law requiring publicly funded schools to be established all across the country and that they be open to all.
  • Boston Latin School Founded

    Boston Latin School The oldest public school in America, the Boston Latin School was founded.
  • King William's School is established

    St. John's College History In 1696 King Williams's School, the first school in Maryland is established. The school is later incorperated into St. John's College.
  • First School for the Deaf in the world is established

    L'historique Founded in Paris by Charles-Michel de l'Épée the Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris is the first school in the world to teach people who are Deaf.
  • Friedrich Froebel creates Kindergarten

    Friedrich Froebel Froebel establishes his Play and Activity Institute which in 1840 he renames Kindergarten.
  • Massachusetts becomes the first US state to have mandatory school attendance laws

    Massachusetts Educational History In 1852 Massachusetts becomes the first state in the United States to have laws requiring mandatory school attendance laws.
  • Department of Education Created

    US Dept. of Education President Andrew Johnson signs legistlation creating the US Department of Education.
  • Mary Ellen Wilson Animal Abuse Case

    Link to ASPCA history of Mary Ellen Wilson Mary Ellen Wilson was a child being abused in NYC. At the time there were not any child protection laws so the ASPCA took up the case as an animal abuse case.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Brown vs. Board of Ed In May of 1954 the US Supreme Court ruled that segregation in US schools was illegal.