Historical Timeline of Education

By feliciawoldt

  • Separation of Church and State

    Separation of Church and State
    This event changed the course of education toward what it is now. Rather than teaching any specific religion, schools became a national teaching to educate diverse citizens for the progression of the nation and to aid/participate in a democratic republic. This was the building block of today's public schools (Kaplan & Owings, 2015).

  • Free Public High Schools

    Free Public High Schools
    These schools offered young men the education, at no fee, to progress in a profession that did not require college. They offered an extended education to those that could not otherwise afford it. Additionally, these schools offered advanced education required for college admittance at no cost. It was believed that advancing educationally opened the door to societal advancement, and these schools offered that opportunity to all students (Kaplan & Owings).

  • Universal Public Schooling

    Universal Public Schooling
    Universal public schooling aimed to offer all students a comparative education no matter their social standing. It was the first step to take down the barriers between social classes. It offered students the chance at an educational opportunity that might not have otherwise been possible (Kaplan & Owings, 2015). Today, this concept is still seen in our public educational systems as public schools are open to all students regardless of social class, gender, race, or ethnicity.

  • Child-Centered Curriculum

    Child-Centered Curriculum
    Shifted ideology of teaching. Educators started focusing on the student rather than the content. This view on education led to changes in curriculum and instruction (Kaplan & Owings, 2015). A new pedagogy was born and continues to evolve to this day.

  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Brown v. Board of Education
    This case became the building block for American education and society as a whole. The U.S. Supreme Court deemed that "separate but equal" was "inherently unequal." African Americans and other citizens of color were given equivalent educational opportunities that they previously lacked (Kaplan & Owings, 2015). This event was an integral building block for educational inclusion of the United States.