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Massachusetts Education Law
This law requires all towns with 500 or more families to have a public high school for all students. -
Horace Mann, Common School Journal
A journal that describes the public school system and its problems. He also worked at getting more supplies for schools, increasing teacher salary, and providing more years of schooling for the youth. -
MI: Department of Education Founded
The Department of Education is founded to establish public school systems.
Every single major educational decision since this event has been run through the department of education. Without the DOE, I don't think the school system would have progressed near as much as it has, and I believe the teacher shortage problem would be much worse without this department. This department is also critical to the assisting the number of students able to attend university.
https://www2.ed.gov/about -
Committee of Ten
A group of educators that pushed for standardization in high school curriculum. -
Secondary School Movement (1910-1940)
The United States saw an increase in youth entering High School. By 1940, 73% of American youths were in High School. -
John Dewey, Democracy and Education
In this book Dewey compares education to society and democracy. -
John Dewey, Experience and Education
A book where Dewey emphasized experience, experiment, freedom, and progressive education. -
MI: Brown vs. Board of Education
The ruling that public schools cannot be separate. Separate but equal is unconstitutional.
The civil rights movement could never be complete until "separate but equal" was done away with. This ruling has paved the way for many amazingly bright minorities to contribute to society in a way that was impossible beforehand. This is a lesson that should be taught at every single grade level in America to help students understand the importance of acceptance and human rights.
https://www.nps.gov/brvb -
Sputnik
The launch of Sputnik urged the American government to pass the National Defense Education Act. This increased funding for education for all students (including college). -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Part of President Johnson's war on poverty. The purpose is to provide full educational opportunity as our number 1 goal. -
MI: Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA)
It protects the rights of disabled students by giving them free appropriate public education.
I love the idea that everyone, including those with disabilities now are able to receive adequate education. This act helped open the doors to so many research opportunities. This act also has provided many resources and much relief to parents of those with disabilities.
http://idea.ed.gov/ -
MI: A Nation At Risk Report
Report given by Ronald Reagan. It states that the school system in America is failing, and how to improve it.
Pres Reagan pushes the American people to improve the system, but does so in a caring way. He is forceful and speaks matter-of-factly, but he backs himself with facts and remedies. I do not agree with his idea of schools competing, both at a national and international level.
https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk -
School Choice Movement
Students are able to choose how their receive their education. The options include: public school, charter schools, magnet schools, virtual schools, homeschooling, etc. -
City Academy High School
The first charter school in the United States opens in Minnesota. -
MI: No Child Left Behind
Schools that receive federal funding are required to give standardized tests.
My impression is that the idea behind this act is full of good intentions but doesn't leave room for personalized teaching. It improves the system for struggling kids but holds back kids who are ready to excel. NCLB makes me think of the quote by Albert Einstein "Everyone is a genius but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing it is stupid" https://www2.ed.gov/nclb
