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Massachusetts Act of 1642
Some view it as the first school law in the colonies. The Puritans decided to make education a civil responsibility of the state. In other words education became mandatory for all white children as a way to strengthen and perserve Puritan religious beliefs. -
Massachusetts Act of 1647
Also known as the "Old Deluder Satan Act" because education was seen as protection against the devil. It mandated the establishment and support of schools. -
Noah Webster
Webster was a lawyer, writer, politician, and schoolmaster. He wrote the Elementary Spelling Book - "Old - Blue- Back"and the American Dictionary. Felt it was necessary for students to be taught the rudimentals of language. -
Horace Mann
The first Secretary of Massachusetts State Board of Education in 1837. He supported the common schools. Common schools were schools that were fre and open to the public. They ran off of state funds. He stated that teachers needed to be trained to teach.
Died: 2 Aug. 1859 -
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of Independence, he viewed education of common people as the most effective in preserving liberty. Believed in providing the basics of education to all children. However he wanted only the brightest students to be selected for higher education. He supported public education. -
Sarah Pierce
Established Litchfield Female Academy to educate girls who had little education before. An example of a Female Seminary which trained women for higher education outside the home. -
Friedrich Froebel
German Educator who coined the word Kindergarten. He stressed the motor a and self-activity of children before they begin formal education. He thought that through play, games, stories, music, and language activities would be a foundation for the child's later educational and social development. -
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Civil War
War between states, particulary the Northern and Southern states. It was the main war focused on slavary and whether all states should be free or not. Also determined whether the states would be united as one or divided because of the issue of slavary. -
Frederick Taylor
An engineer and founder of Scientific Management, in which school officials undertook reforms based on management principles and techniques from big business. Schools began to take on organizational features similar to today's schools. -
Freedmen's Bureau
Established by Congress ,after the Civil War, to provide the foundadtions of education to former slaves. -
Committee of Ten
The directors of National Education Association gave $2,500 to the committee so they can hold 9 conferences regarding the high school education. The group decided that the primary function of high school was to take smart, first class, students and prepare them for life. -
Commitee of 15
Appointed to examine the elementary curriculum. Their report called for introduction to Latin, modern languages, and algebra in their curriculum. It was to be organized around five basic subjects: grammar, literature. arithmetic, geography, and history. -
John Dewey
A Philosopher and teacher who was a prominent figure of the Progressive movemnet. He founded Laboratory Schools, in which students focused on traditional subjects and working in small groups. It was entirely child centered, with the curriculum a natural outgrowth of children's interests. -
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World War I
First major war around the world. Started between Austria and Serbia over the assationation of Archduke Franz Ferdinard. It was a matter of who blamed whom and caused tensions to build up in Europe among the other countries. -
Progressive Movement
A Philosophy of Education, supporters were intent on social reform to improve the quality of American life. They were opposed to teaching by xtbooks, recitations, and rote memorization. Teachers functioned as guides in progressive schools, they engaged students and moved them to a higher understanding of the material. -
Jane Addams
Addams founded Hull House, a social and educational center for poor immigrants. She used her training as a social worker and developed a pilosophy of socialized education that linked schools with other social service agencies. -
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World War II
The war to end the Great Depression in American. Main leader was Adolf Hitler who wanted to control all of Europe and eradicate the Jews. The Unitied States did not get involved until 1943 after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. -
Government Issued Bill of Rights
Also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It provided millions of veterans with payments for tuition and room and board at colleges, universities, and special schools. -
Desegregation
Where all citizens were declared equal. Many African Americans began to enroll and attend schools with white children. Time of reform in American for schools and society. -
Civil Rights Movement
Movement that supported racial equality for all citizens. Martin Luther King was a prominent leader and peaceful activist of this movement. It started with the trial of Brown vs. Board of Education and moved to the whole country advocating equal rights to all citizens -
Linda Brown
She had to walk and ride a bus to a separate school for African American children. Her father wanted his children to go to a school closer to home and filed a law suit against the Board of Education in order to desegregate schools. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
The Supreme Court case between Brown, an African American parent, and the State Board of Education in Kansas. This was the case that decided "Separate but equal" was injust and utlimately ended the racial segregation in all schools. This was also a starting cause for the Civil Rights Movement. -
Sputnik
First satellite in in space launched by the Soviet Union. This Sparked an education reform in order to catch up to the Soviet Union based on educational smarts. Increase in students studying math and science. -
National Defense Education Act
Provides aid to all U.S. schools, both public and private. It mainly was created to stimulate the enhancement of education in science, math, and foreign language. -
Civil Rights Act
Ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination based on race, color, gender, and religion. It was first proposed by President John F. Kennedy and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson.
