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Period: to
The Colonial Period
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The Colonial Period
The roots of American education began with the Jamestown colony, the first permanent English settlement in North America. -
First Free School in Virginia
The first "free school" in Virginia opens. However, education in the Southern colonies is more typically provided at home by parents or tutors. -
The Boston Latin Grammar School
The Boston Latin Grammar School was established and it was the first American high school. It served only the elite and it was a college-preparatory school designed to help boys prepare for the ministry or a career in law. -
Harvard College
Harvard College, the first higher education institution in what is now the United States, is established in Newtowne (now Cambridge), Massachusetts. -
Massachusetts Act of 1647
"Old Deluder Satan Act" was a law that was designed to produce citizens who understood the Bible, could thwart Satan's trickery, and required every town of 50 or more households to hire a teacher of reading and writing.
It gave the idea that public education could contribute to the greater good of our country. It provided the legal foundation for public support of education. -
New England Primer
The first New England Primer is printed in Boston. It becomes the most widely-used schoolbook in New England. -
English Academy
Benjamin Franklin helps to establish the first "English Academy" in Philadelphia with a curriculum that is both classical and modern, including such courses as history, geography, navigation, surveying, and modern as well as classical languages. The academy ultimately becomes the University of Pennsylvania. -
Period: to
The Early National Period
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Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 specifies that the western territories are to be divided into townships made up of 640-acre sections, one of which was to be set aside "for the maintenance of public schools." -
First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.The "separation of church and state," which stated that no religion should be placed above others. -
Tenth Amendment
The Bill of Rights is passed by the first Congress of the new United States. The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution states that powers not delegated to the federal government "are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people." Education becomes a function of the state rather than the federal government. -
Blackboard Invented
James Pillans invents the modern blackboard.
He took slates and hung them on the wall to teach his students Geography and this brought him an idea of the blackboard -
Period: to
The Common School Movement
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The Common School Movement
A historic attempt to make education available to all children in the U.S. -
English High School of Boston
The first public high school, Boston English High School, opens. The English High School of Boston, Massachusetts is one of the first public high schools in America, founded in 1821. Originally called The English Classical School, it was renamed The English High School upon its first relocation in 1824 -
The Creation of Normal Schools
The first public normal school in the United States was founded in Concord, Vermont, by Samuel Read Hall in 1823, which was dedicated to training teachers -
Free Public High School
The state of Massachusetts passes a law requiring towns of more than 500 families to have a public high school open to all students. -
Horace Mann
Mann was an outspoken advocate for public education. He believed in the idea that public education in the form of tax-supported elementary schools (common schools) should be a right to all citizens.
His influences built 50 new secondary schools, increased teacher salaries by 50%, and passed the nation's first compulsory school attendance law in 1852. -
First Mandatory Attendance Law
Massachusetts enacts the first mandatory attendance law. By 1885, 16 states have compulsory-attendance laws, but most of those laws are sporadically enforced at best. All states have them by 1918.
It was mandatory for all students to attend school. -
Period: to
1865-Present
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Department of Education
The Department of Education is created in order to help states establish effective school systems. -
First Medical School for African Americans
Meharry Medical College is founded in Nashville, Tennessee. It is the first medical school in the south for African Americans. -
First Principal
Booker T. Washington becomes the first principal of the newly-opened normal school in Tuskegee, Alabama, now Tuskegee University. -
National Education Association
Formed by the National Education Association to establish a standard secondary school curriculum, the Committee of Ten, recommends a college-oriented high school curriculum. -
Junior High School
In order to improve high school graduation rates, the Columbus Ohio School Board authorizes the creation of junior high schools. Indianola Junior High School opens that fall and becomes the first junior high school in the U.S.
