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Free School Society of New York provides free education to poor immigrant children.
Marton (2015) points out that in 1805, poor immigrant children could only receive free education through their affiliated churches. Marton acknowledges that the incorporation of the Free School Society of New York allowed poor immigrant children to receive free education without religious affiliation through sponsored funding. This set the stage for future publicly funded schools, in which all children could attend, regardless of wealth, race or religion. Image source: Wikimedia Commons, (n.d.). -
Mann’s normal school provides education for teachers.
According to Wimpey (1959), the first normal school was founded by Horace Mann in 1839. Wimpey reiterates Mann’s concern with inadequate teaching in common schools, and his belief that the normal school was necessary to ensure all students were taught by highly educated and qualified teachers. Normal schools have since evolved to present day colleges and universities, where teachers receive the necessary training to properly educate America’s youth. Image source: Abdalian, (n.d.) -
Elementary school completion becomes mandatory nationwide.
US Legal (n.d) indicates that by 1918, every state in the United States adapted a requirement for all school aged children to attend and complete elementary school. This ensured all children received an education, as well as helping to prevent the exploitation of children as factory workers (US Legal, n.d.). Compulsory laws continue to ensure America’s youth are receiving adequate education by making school attendance mandatory. Image source: “Attendance billboard,” (n.d.). -
United States Supreme Court rules segregation in schools is unconstitutional.
Pruitt (2018) describes the Brown family’s experience with segregation, which prevented black children from going to “all white” schools. Pruitt points out that schools were not immediately desegregated despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Brown family’s favor. However, the case was a major turning point in shrinking the educational gap between the races in public education, resulting in future and further educational opportunities for all. Image source: “School segregation ruling,” (2016) -
Covid-19 pandemic causes nationwide school closures, forcing learning to go virtual.
During the spring of 2020, schools across the nation were closed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In her June 2020 staff meeting, Hughes (2020) explains the important role online learning played in educating children during the pandemic. According to Hughes, changes in the classroom structure will continue this fall as districts are met with heavy restriction guidelines. In addition, districts are also planning for future school closures. Image source: “School closed announcement,” (2020).
