US Education Historical Timeline

By amahle

  • First School for Girls Opens

    First School for Girls Opens
    In 1772, Salem, NC established the first school for girls. This school aimed to develop girls based off their individual needs. This was the first school that allowed, focused, AND emphasized women’s education. The Moravian Church was the first to view women’s education with importance and held their education to high standards and the same standards as men’s education. This event is the foundation and first step of many steps for women’s education (History, 2022) (Salem Study Parlor 1904).

  • First College for Women

    First College for Women
    80 students arrive at the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary founded by Mary Lyon. This is the first college for women. Lyon wanted an affordable school for women to achieve the same education as men. This event is important because this was the next step in education after regular schooling for women. Lyon offered more subjects which allowed women to make more choices in their lives. This was another step for women (First students arrive at Mt. Holyoke Seminary) (Seniors Marching to Chapel 1908).

  • First Coeducational College

    First Coeducational College
    Oberlin college admitted its first group of women to the school making it the first coeducational college. This was another major step for women in education because it began to close the gap between men and women in education. Women were now able to receive the same education in the same environment as men. This allowed women to get the same information as men in classrooms. This was another step in the direction of where we are now (Oberlin history 2021) (The First Coeds, Class of 1841 1990).

  • First Woman to Graduate from Medical School

    First Woman to Graduate from Medical School
    Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to graduate from medical school at Geneva Medical College. She changed the course for women in the medical field. This event is important because Blackwell promoted women to go into the medical field as well as helping their careers. This opened up opportunities for women to widen their career choices with their education and degrees. She shows persistence which is something everyone can learn from (Changing the face of Medicine | Elizabethblackwell 2015).

  • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

    Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
    Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was passed which prevented sexual discrimination in any education program of activity. This meant that women could no longer be discriminated against in the educational system just because of their sex. Women could worry less about not getting an education and more about studying and choosing their degree. Women had more choice of where they could go to further their education. There are still issues today with Title IX (OCR, 2021) (McLeister, 1955).