-
Jan 1, 1517
Beginning of Protestant Reformation
At this point in history, people were completely dependent upon Catholic priests to translate and teach the Bible. Martin Luther (1483-1546) translated the Bible into German so that the general public could read and comprehend the scriptures for themselves. Luther was a pioneer in bringing education to the masses through literacy and the Protestant Reformation began and supported the importance of universal education. -
Period: to
John Locke
Known for his theory of tabula rasa, meaning the mind is a blank slate completely formed by environment and experience. This theory is responsible for the push towards educating 3 and 4 year old children in order to stimulate their minds and aid in their development. -
Period: to
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Rousseau encouraged the education and growth of children without intervention. He is responsible for the theory of unfolding - the belief that each child has an innate timeline of development that will dictate their nature as they age. -
Period: to
Friedrich Wilhelm Froebel
Froebel is known as the “father of the kindergarten” and worked with Rousseau’s theory of unfolding to determine that a teacher’s role is to observe each child and provide appropriate activities only when they are ready. His major contribution was the concept of learning through play. -
Period: to
John Dewey
Dewey is responsible for the theory of progressivism in schooling, which emphasizes that catering towards a child’s interests is preferred over focusing on subject matter. Progressivism has been extremely influential in today’s movement towards child-centered education. -
Period: to
Jean Piaget
Piaget introduced the Constructivist Learning Theory, which surmises that children are ultimately at the helm of their development. This theory states that, through experiencing the world around them, children are active participants in developing their intelligence and learning. This theory is behind the 'hands-on' approach frequently found in today's classrooms. -
Period: to
Erik Erikson
Erikson developed the Psychosocial Theory of learning, which emphasizes the important link between cognitive and social development. This says there is a burden on society to uplift the children so they can achieve their full cognitive potential. -
Period: to
Urie Bronfenbrenner
Bronfenbrenner concluded that children's development is heavily influenced by their environment, which is comprised of a system of relationships. His ecological theory looks at how five interrelating systems work together to shape and influence a child's development. -
National Defense Education Act (NDEA)
In response to the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik, US politicians concentrated their national defense efforts on education. This act was the beginning of federal standards in education and provided federal funding for science, technology, engineering, math, and foreign language programs. -
Civil Rights Act
This act provided equal constitutional protection for people in public education. It was amended in 1972, adding Title IX, which provided equal opportunity for women in school sports. -
No Child Left Behind Act
This act provides federal funding for schools that are able to meet certain standards. It set an emphasis on assessments in order to determine if the school has met student testing standards as well as Adequate Yearly Progress standards. Please note that it passed the House and Senate in 2001, but it was signed into law in early 2002.