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1859- Herbert Spencer
In essay entitled "What Knowledge is of Most Worth?" Spencer posed this question and suggested that it must be the guiding force in curriculum development. He felt the curriculum should serve as a tool in advancing survival and social progress. He felt the curriculum should include five activities: self preservation, performance of occupations, child-rearing, social and political participation, and recreation and leisure. -
Office of Education Created
The Office of Education was created in order to help establish effective school systems. -
Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Ratified
The Fourteenth Amendment gurantees privileges of citizenship including due process and equal protection under the law. It becomes the basis for the rulings in Brown vs. Board of Education and Pyler vs. Doe. -
1890-1920 The Progressive Education Movement
A movement in the field of education that focused on "learning by doing" and on critical thinking and problem solving. -
The Committee of Ten
The National Education Association appointed a Committee of Ten to establish a standard curriculum. They recommended eight years of elementary education and four years of secondary education. They established several curricula for secondary education. -
"The Public School and the Immigrant Child" published by Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a proponent of progressive education. She believed that education should include immigrant students' diverse culture as a means for providing an easy transition into the U.S as well as bonding the family as opposed to teaching conflicting values and ideas. -
Charters' Book, Methods of Teaching is Published
In his book, Charters suggested that the function of school subject matter was "to satisfy needs and and solve problems" faced by society. Charters' most significant contribution to the field of education was his activity-analysis approach to curriculum development. -
Thorndike's book, Educational Psychology: The Psychology of Learning is Published
In his book, Thorndike suggested that human learning involves habit formation or connections between stimuli and responses. He believed these connections are made stronger by repetition and achieving satisfying consequences. -
John Dewey's book, Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education
Dewey was a proponent of the Progressive Education Movement. Progressive education seeks to make schools more effective agents of democracy. -
Marie Montessori
Montessori created a 'child-centered' approach that emphasizes rich environments, freedom, and respect for the student's point of view. -
Franklin Bobbitt
Bobbitt felt the curriculum should focus on individual deficits whether it be cultural, personal, or social. He also felt the curriculum should be geared towards preparing students for adulthood. His contributions to the field of education includes the development of precise, practical, and measurable goals which represent the ideals of an industrial society -
The Cardinal Principles of Secondary Education
The Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education developed seven Cardinal Principles of Secondary Education including: Health, Command of Fundamental Processes, Worthy Home Membership, Vocation, Civic education, Worthy use of leisure, and Ethical character. -
The Progressive Education Association
The Progressive Education Association founded with the purpose of reforming American education. -
Jean Piaget
Piaget's theory of cognitive development becomes an important influence on the field of education.
