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Jean Jacques Rousseau publishes Emile.
Emile by Rousseau was one of his most famous writings. Rousseau tells the story of Emile and his development and educational experiences. Through the book, Rousseau outlines his model of education that requires different types of learning at different stages of development. http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/rousseau-emile-or-education -
Invention of the Cotton Gin
In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. The cotton gin changed the production of cotton by speeding up the process. This allowed for the increased production of cotton and led to a greater demand for African slaves.
http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/cotton-gin-and-eli-whitney -
The first high school in the United States opened
The first high school in American opened in 1821 and was known as English Classical High School in Boston, Massachusetts. This new high school provided an alternative to Latin grammar schools. The English Classical High School served male students only starting at age 12. Acceptance was based on an entrance exam which included reading, writing, grammar and math test questions.
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/high-school-curriculum-200-years-ago-vs-today -
Catherine Beecher begins teaching at a girls' school in New London, Connecticut.
Catherine Catherine's sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe, is most well known for her book Uncle Tom's Cabin. Catherine attended an all girls school in Conneticuit and later went on to teach at an all girls school. Catherine was known for introducing calisthenics in P.E. courses. In 1852 she founded the American Woman’s Educational Association to recruit and train teachers to staff schools. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Catharine-Beecher -
Robert Owen comes to United States, and brings with him infant school concept
Robert Owen was industrialist, philanthropist and socialist in Scotland prior to coming to America. Owen originally came to America to conduct experiments on social and educational topics in New Harmony, Indiana. Owen was influenced by Pestalozzi through his emphasis of common sense and kindness in his teaching.
http://infed.org/mobi/education-in-robert-owens-new-society-the-new-lanark-institute-and-schools/ -
Parliament in the United Kingdom provided funds to voluntary schools
Following the Law of 1833 in France, which mandated governments establish schools and pay teachers, the United Kingdom's Parliament devoted 20 thousand pounds, passed by the House of Commons, to be used for grants for voluntary schools. This was the first instance where the government was providing funds to educational institutions.
http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/livinglearning/school/overview/in19thcentury/ -
Samuel Hall's book Lectures to School-Masters on Teaching was published.
Hall writes in his book Lectures to School-Masters on Teaching, about the problems facing teachers which include qualifications, buildings, classroom management, and methods of teaching content areas. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044096983069;view=1up;seq=11 -
Horace Mann was elected to the Massachusetts Board of Education
After serving the Whig party on the House of Representatives from 1827-1833, Mann went on to serve in the state Senate from 1833-1837. Mann was in favor of "An Act Relating to Common Schools" which had major influences. The act helped establish the Massachusets Board of Education in 1837 with Mann serving as the groups first secretary.
https://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/horace.html -
National Education Association reformed
Originally known as the National Teachers Association, in 1870 the organization reorganized to become the National Education Association. During the reorganization, the group consolidated three other organizations including: American Normal School Association, National Association of School Superintendents, Central College Association. http://www.nea.org/home/12172.htm -
The Morrill Act officially passed by Congress and signed
The Morrill Bill was passed by Congress in 1857 but was shot down in a veto by President James Buchanan. The Bill's creator, Justin Morrill, reintroduced the bill and it passed and was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The act granted public lands to be used for the creation of colleges with a purpose of agricultural and mechanical instruction.
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Morrill.html -
Civil War Ended
In 1865 the Civil War ended when General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate Army, at the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, to the federal forces led by Ulysses S. Grant. http://www.historynet.com/civil-war-facts -
U.S. Congress created the federal Department of Education
1867 marked the creation of the federal Department of Education. The department collected information on schools and teaching that would help the States establish effective school systems. Henry Barnard served as the department's first commissioner from 1867-1870.
https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/role.html -
William T. Harris establishes Kindergarten as part of St. Louis public school system.
While serving as the Superintendent of Schools in St. Louis Missouri, Harri's helped establish Kindergarten as a part of the public school system. He enlisted Susan Blow to help him develop the kindergarten content. Blow was an expert on Froebel's philosophy. Harris later went on to become the U.S. Commissioner of Education where he continued his push to get kindergarten established in all schools. http://shsmo.org/historicmissourians/name/h/harris/ -
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Francis Parker serves as Superintendent of schools in Massachusetts
Francis Parker is known as the "father of American progressive education." Parker grew up in New Hampshire and began teaching public school at the age of 16. In 1872, Parker traveled to Europe to study educational philosophies. He served as superintendent of schools in Quincy, Massachusetts and developed the "Quincy New Departure" protoype child-centered educational idea. http://schugurensky.faculty.asu.edu/moments/1901parker.html -
Department of Normal Schools appointed a committee to make recommendations to standardize normal schools
The American Normal School Association was first developed in 1858 and later became known as the Department of Normal Schools of the National Teachers Association. In 1885, the association recommended that states recognize normal school diplomas as a life certificate to teach, normal schools maintain teacher education as their focus, and normal schools work together to develop standards for admission and preparation of teachers.
http://www.nea.org/home/12172.htm -
Maria Montessori enters Medical School.
Maria Montessori was an Italian educator known for her inventive methods of instruction. She graduated from medical school in 1896 as one of Italy's first female physicians. She was interested in psychiatry and spent her career advancing her approach to education. She focused on a child-centered, exploratory, and hands-on style of learning. https://amshq.org/Montessori-Education/History-of-Montessori-Education/Biography-of-Maria-Montessori -
William Heard Kilpatrick begins his career in education.
Kilpatrick is best known for his design of the project method. He is also known for his integration of progressive education into teacher preparation programs at Columbia University's Teachers College. The project method he designed stemmed from Dewey's problem-solving approach. Kilpatrick focused on what students learned through the scientific method as well as things they discovered on their own and the attitudes they developed. http://www.ibe.unesco.org/sites/default/files/kilpatricke.PDF -
National Education Association established the Committee of Ten
The Committee of Ten was established in 1892 by the NEA. It was designed to answering pressing questions regarding the local school systems. When the committee issued its report on secondary schools in 1893, they recommended instruction in subject areas begin at an earlier age, extend to more subjects, and that curriculum be identical for college preparatory and terminal students.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1074830.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A470076ef058c63f4c575b12305066835 -
U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Plessy v. Ferguson
This court case challenged the 1890 law that required that all passenger railways provide separate cars for blacks and whites. Plessy was seven-eighths white and one-eighth black and took the seat in a white only car while traveling. Plessy sued the judge, Ferguson for violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court ruled with Ferguson. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/antebellum/landmark_plessy.html -
G. Stanley Hall publishes his book Adolescence
G.Stanley Hall is known for coining the term 'adolescence.' He identified this age group as an important stage in development where there is a need for exploring the environment and future choices. Hall saw this stage as merely a change in human existence.
http://emergingadulthood.umwblogs.org/adolescence/1900-1950/ -
John Dewey's Democracy and Education is published.
Arguably one of the most well known educational philosophers, John Dewey wrote Democracy and Education. In the book, Dewey argues for an open, democratic society that will provide the best environment for testing ideas within a community. He suggested that schools be open to alternative views and methods and serve as laboratories. https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/projects/centcat/fac/facch08_01.html -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in Hawaii
The day that will forever be known as "a date that will live in infamy." The bombing by Japanese naval planes killed 2,300 Americans. After this, Japanese Americans faced opposition from many Americans. The U.S. government set up relocation camps to house suspicious Japanese people. http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/wwii/jb_wwii_pearlhar_1.html -
U.S. initiated the Bracero Program
The Bracero program was initiated due to shortages of agricultural workers in the U.S. The program allowed the hiring of workers from Mexico on a limited basis. Millions of workers from Mexico came to the U.S. as temporary contract laborers to states such as Texas and California and other midwestern states. http://braceroarchive.org/about -
Servicemen's Readjustment Act, or GI Bill, was passed
Formally known as the Serviceman's Readjustment Act, the GI Bill was passed in 1944. It was intended to support veterans by giving them weekly allowances and sending them to universities and colleges. The bill was approved and signed into law on January 22, 1944 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 16 million servicemen returned to the United States following World War II and by 1947 approximately 50% of university students were veterans.
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/history.asp -
Mendez v. Westminster School District
Sylvia Mendez was a child who was turned away from California public schools that was considered 'white only.' Sylvia's father took four school districts to court and won a class action suit. This court decision had major impacts on Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954, 8 years later.
http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/background-mendez-v-westminster-re-enactment -
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education was established.
NCATE was established in 1954. The goal of the organization is to help establish "high quality teacher, specialist, and administrator preparation. Through the process of professional accreditation of schools, colleges and departments of education, NCATE works to make a difference in the quality of teaching, teachers, school specialists and administrators." http://www.ncate.org/Public/AboutNCATE/tabid/179/Default.aspx -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
This historic court case held racial segregation of public school children violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This decision had major implications on public schools in America. While it didn't succeed in fully desegregating public schools, it did help to support racial equality and push the civil rights movement into even more of a revolution. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_brown.html -
Free Speech Movement (FSM) students protest at the University of California at Berkeley
In the fall of 1964, the FSM confronted administration at the University of California Berkley. The students were soliciting donations for civil rights and university administrators announced they were going to enforce regulations regarding advocacy of off-campus political causes. On December 3, 1964 almost 2,000 students arranged a sit in as protest. The next day police arrived and arrested hundreds of students.
http://www.jofreeman.com/sixtiesprotest/berkeley.htm -
A Nation at Risk report
A Nation at Risk was a report put out by the Department of Education during the President Reagan administration. The report relayed information regarding America's education system. Staggering information was reported such as 23 million illiterate adults, 13% illiterate 17 year olds, declines in test scores, and declines in achievement scores. http://neatoday.org/2013/04/25/a-nation-at-risk-turns-30-where-did-it-take-us-2/ -
No Child Left Behind Act passed
No Child Left Behind was an educational act passed by the George W. Bush administration in 2001. It laid out suggests that public schools should follow in order to make progress from the Nation at Risk years before. This act mandated that states must establish measurable ways to assess students' achievement in order to receive federal funding. http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/no-child-left-behind-overview-definition-summary.html
