-
Education in Colonial America
During this time, education was neither free nor public. Counties would pool resources to hire a teacher for their area. Only the most elite would have the chance to go on to a university. Some boys would receive some level of education in the three Rs, but it was not very organized or extensive until after the Revolutionary War. -
*Impact of Jefferson, Rush, & Webster
Jefferson believed that education that helped prepare citizens to participate in democracy was crucial. Rush believed, like Jefferson, that education should be a government-provided service for all students. Webster produced the first primers for American students to help Americanize students and move them away from the standards that had been taught before the war. This is one of the most important because it set the basis for what American education would become. -
Common Schools
As part of Horace Mann's effort, schools that were free, high quality, funded with tax dollars began in America. They had state organized standards; tax dollars paid for schools; it came as a result of population growth (immigration), social control (protestants). When schools began to work from standards, curriculum that was deemed important by a single body was tuaght in wider areas, so more students had similar backgrounds and were similarly prepared to work and participate in society. -
Monitorial Schools, Charity Schools, & Infant Schools
As common schools began to take hold, a variations of it existed for a time. Monitorial schools allowed for one teacher to be a hundred students by employing monitors who were involved more directly with students in discipline. Charity schools were less common, but provided some education to lower class by the charity of others. Infant schools provided school for children 4-7 who would be going to work at a young age. -
*Impact of Horace Mann
Horace Mann helped begin standardization of American schools. He traveled to schools in the area to see their conditions. From his observations he began teacher training, better classroom atmosphere, and more standard texts. This is a Top 5 because it was the beginning of looking out for students' best interest in education. -
Committee of Ten
-
Committee of Ten
This was an educational governing body that recommended standardizing high school curriculum in America. This meant that schools became better aligned to each other across the state and country. It also meant that one body of people was trying to help everyone get on the same page. This set a foundation for the way education is still run today. -
*Progressive Reform Movement
Movement away from rigid curriculum, a movement to educate the whole child, more creative learning environments, physical education, etc. This is a Top 5 because it began a system that we are more familiar with. More interesting subjects and activities made school more enjoyable, and students excelled with a less rigid, and more liberal, approach. -
*Brown v. Board of Education
"Separate but equal" was determined ineffective and was abolished. Schools began racial integration so that black students would have the same opportunities and resources as white students.
This is critical to the foundation of American education. This was a major step in civil rights and access of education to all Americans. This fulfilled in greater meaning Jefferson's vision of preparing all citizens to participate in democracy and to be productie members of society. -
The Civil Rights Movement
JFK passed the Civil Rights Act, a movement that had been long in the making by many African-American citiizens who saught equal opportunities in all places in American society. This greatly impacted the schools, since they were publicly funded. It motivated integration-resistant schools with the threat of revoking public funding if they didn't comply. Within 8 years, 91% of black students were in integrated schools. -
ESEA
-
*IDEA
The Individuals with Educational Disabilities Act began the new laws that would help students with any disability to receive an education, with use of necessary resources and accomodations, to best help them succeed. This is one of the Top 5 because it expanded education to even more students, past the Civil Rights Act. It allowed for a new realm of possibilities, previously denied to these students. Now so many students can learn and even graduate with help from those trained in Special Ed. -
A Nation at Risk
This was a repot put together by the Department of Education, as commissioned by Pres. Ronald Reagan. President Reagan that delivered the findings to the nation, and express the need for America to step up to the plate. The report showed a trend of mediocrity that was troubling. It also showed that the US was faling behind in the world. Reform began on every level to bring up standards, increase rigor, increase funding, and a push for schools to compete as they do in the business world. -
A Nation at Risk
-
No Child Left Behind
Signed into law by Pres. George W. Bush, this new act brought back the ESEA. It was a movement toward standardization, skill competency, increased accountability of schools, and high qualification of teachers. Schools were supposed to improve every year, until no one failed. This led to teachers teaching to the test and the state lowering the standards so more students would pass.
