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First Education Laws
The first law passed in 1642 said that the selectmen had to see that children were being educated and know what they were being taught. The law passed in 1647 stated that in a township of 50 households there must be a teacher and in a township of 100 households there must be a grammar school. These were the first laws passed in order to bring about the education of children. -
Benjamin Franklin starts a school
Benjamin Franklin started a school for the purpose of teaching the basics. I believed in a practical education. He championed the idea that English could be the language of and educated person. I think this was an important event because English is the language of the American Education system. -
MOST IMPORTANT-The impact of Jefferson, Rush, and Webster
Disability History MuseumThomas Jefferson proposed an idea that was revolutionary for his time. He wanted to provide a free universal system of edcation for three years which would be supported by taxation. Benjamin Rush also supported the idea of a universal education system. He was an advocate of the education for women. Noah Webster is known for his primer and dictionaries. He wanted cultural independence from England and wrote books to help bring this about. -
Population growth and immigration in the 19th Century.
In the 19th Century the population was rapidly growing and there was a large influx of immigrants. Education was seen as a way to help all of these immigrants assimilate and become productive members of society. The common school was important in the education of the growing population. -
MOST IMPORTANT-Common School Movement
The Common School Movement was important in the history of education because it was a forerunner to todays school system. The common schools were attended commonly by all children but were publically supported. It was said to be the equalizer of men because it educated both rich and poor with the same body of knowledge. One of the great champions of the Common School Movement was Horace Mann. He sought for schools that were "good enough for the best and cheap enough for the poorest." -
The impact of Horace Mann
Horace Mann was a reformer and a politician. He had an interest in education and was the first Secretary of the Board of Education for Massachusetts. He was an advocate for the Common School Movement and road from district to district on horseback. He wrote reports to identify the nature and condition of the schools. -
MOST IMPORTANT-Sarah Roberts vs. the City of Boston
I placed this event as one of the five most important events in the history of american education because it was the first event that led to integration. Sarah Brown was a black child in Massachusetts who had to go to a school far from her home because she was not allowed to attend the white schools. Her father sought to enroll her in the neighborhood schools and then pursued that effort through the courts and legislation. It led to a ban of segregation in Massachusetts. -
The growth of education after the Civil War
After the Civil War ended there was a rise in the population of students. Millions of slaves had been freed to pursue and education. People moved West and as they established towns, they also established schools. Women were seen as suitable because they were good with children and they were cheaper to hire. -
The Progressive Reform Movement
The Progressive Reform Movement emphasized a child-centered curriculum vs. a concept-centered curriculum. The movement was interested in the education of the whole child. The Progressive Reform Movement was concerned about the the conditions of the schools as well as nutrition for the student. The academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of the child were considered. -
The Secondary School Movement
Secondary schools were important because general skills were needed in the American workforce. The Committee of Ten recommended that there be twelve years of schooling with eight years of elementary training and four years of secondary training. The secondary school was the forerunner to the high school. -
The impact of John Dewey
John Dewey is often called the "Father of Progressive Education." He believed that schools could be made better by gearing them to the needs of the child. He believed in the eduction of the whole child and that social, emotional and academic needs should be considered. -
The measurement movement
At the beginning of the 20th Century, IQ tests were being developed. Tests could measure general intelligence and could be used to help identify the types of jobs people could fulfill. The military used IQ tests to help determine what types of jobs in which a person would succeed. The movement to measure intelligence influenced the role of testing in schools. -
Brown vs. the Board of Education in 1954
In Topeca, Kansas certain black families sought to enroll their children in white schools When they were denied they sued for the right to enroll their children in neighborhood schools. The Supreme Court made a decision in favor or desegregation. Even with the decision of the Supreme Court change was slow to happen. -
IMPORTANT IDEA-Sputnik
When the Russians launched the Sputnik it sent a message to the United States that they were falling behind in technology and engineering. As a result of this there was a movement in education to return to the basics, especially science and math. This new movement for increased achievement in education effectively put an end to the progressive movement in education. The launch of Sputnik has been called a "technilogical Pearl Harbor" and it spurred action in the United States. -
The Impact of the Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was helped by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This ACT contained a carrot and a stick. The stick was the threat of losing funding and the carrot was the promise of increased funding for integrated schools. Initially the Civil Rights Movement was about the issues concerning the black community but it grew to include other minorities and causes. -
The War on Poverty
LBJ's legacy includes the War on Poverty. With the poverty rate at nearly 20% he sought to help the poor. He rolled out federal programs to help disadvantaged students. The most successful of these programs was the HeadStart program. It was designed to help disadvantaged preschool aged children. -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act of 1975
The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act of 1975 sought to provide education to children with disabilities. A free and appropriate education was offered to people with disabilities. These chiildren were to be provided and education in regular schools along with their nondisabled peers. This Act confirmed the idea that ALL children have the right to an education. -
MOST IMPORTANT-Standards Movement
After the Nation at Risk Report in 1983, there was another push in education for the need to get back to the basics. The idea behind the Standards Movement was that students throughout the country should be learning the same concepts. Students from different states were arriving at college with very different levels of preparation. The Standards Movement was an effort to teach students the basics so that they would be college ready. -
A Nation at Risk Report of 1983
The report called A Nation at Risk, which was issued in 1983 proclaimed a "rising tide of mediocrity" in the American education system. The report called for a return to the basics in the curriculum and for an increase in academic rigor in schools. The report set off a series of educational reforms in the 1980's. -
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 called for greater accountablility of schools and increased communication with parents about the success or failure of their child's school. If a school was failing parents could opt to move their child to another school. This act sought educational reform with sanctions rather than with resources.
