-
Horace Mann (1796 – 1859)
Horace Mann was an influential proponent of free, public education and devoted his life to improving the U.S educational system. With regard to curriculum and methodology, Mann was an early advocate of removing religious influence on public education and was instrumental in the creation of teaching colleges.He also began the Common School Journal, which helped spread teaching techniques. Biography.com. (2018). Horace Mann Biography. Retrieved from www.biography.com/people/horace-mann-9397522 -
Department of Education Founded
The Department of Education was founded in 1867 to help states create and maintain effective school systems. This meant finding out what teaching methods were proven to be the most effective and sharing that information with the nation. While states are not mandated to follow methodology recommended by the Department of Education, they often utilize these resources. U.S. Department of Education. (2017). The Federal Role in Education. Retrieved from www2.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/role -
First Junior High School
The Columbus Board of Education created the first Junior High in 1909. Due to a large drop out rate in their schools, this new type of school was created in an attempt to better prepare students for success in high school. This represented a major change in curriculum and methodology because students were taught new materials and in ways they had not been taught before. Ohio History Center. Indianola Junior High School. Retrieved from www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Indianola_Junior_High_School -
John Dewey (1859 – 1952)
John Dewey, in his work entitled "Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education", made an indelible mark on the field of education in America. Influenced by the Progressive political movement, Dewey believed that students were more successful when they learned through experience and interaction, rather than lecture. Neill, J. (2005). John Dewey, The Father of Modern Experiential Education. Retrieved from http://www.wilderdom.com/experiential/ExperientialDewey.html -
Tennessee vs. John Scopes
In 1925, Tennessee high school teacher John Thomas Scopes was accused of breaking state law by teaching evolution in his classroom. His guilty verdict was overturned by the state supreme court two years after the trial. This monumental case is a prime example of how politics and religion have played a role in shaping curriculum in schools around the U.S. History.com Staff. (2009). Monkey Trial Begins. History.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/monkey-trial-begins -
Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934
First introduced to Americans in 1934, Vygotsky's ideas on education changed methodology forever by emphasizing language and culture in brain development. He believed that learning was a collaborative process and that students performed best in the "zone of proximal development", where they could only grow with the help of a teacher or their peers. UC Berkley. (2018). Social Constructivism. Retrieved from http://gsi.berkeley.edu/gsi-guide-contents/learning-theory-research/social-constructivism/ -
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
In 1953, B.F. Skinner published "Science and Human Behavior". His theory of Operant Conditioning was hugely influential on American education as it argued that behavior could be changed based on rewards and punishments and the reasons behind them. Positive and negative reinforcement have both been influential in American schools. McLeod, S. (2018). Skinner - Operant Conditioning. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html -
Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka
This case ended the practice of "separate but equal" that had been in effect since Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). The desegregation of schools began and, with it, necessary changes to curriculum and methodology. Now that all students were going to be learning together, educators had to ensure that every student was being set up for success. History.com Staff. (2009). Brown v. Board of Education. History.com Retrieved from www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
First bilingual/bicultural school
In 1963, the nation's first bilingual school was opened. Coral Way Elementary School, located in Miami, Florida, was created to serve the growing number of Cuban immigrants arriving in the U.S. due to the Cuban Revolution. This was a massive change for curriculum and methodology because it transformed the way that students who did not grow up speaking English learned at school. University of Arizona. Coral Way Bilingual Elementary School. Retrieved from www.uair.library.arizona.edu/item/273749 -
Jean Piaget (1896-1980)
Piaget's "The Science of Education" introduced the idea of the learning-cycle. This methodology, which encourages students to develop reasoning skills along with content knowledge, takes place at three levels. Through the steps of exploration, invention, and application, students grow as learners and retain more information than by studying a textbook. Abraham, M. (1997). Research Matters to the Science Teacher. NARST. Retrieved from www.narst.org/publications/research/cycle
