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Two-Track system proposal
Thomas Jefferson suggested a two-track education system, with the two different tracks being for the "laboring" and the "learned." Although this may seem reasonable it is obvious his desire was to seperate the working class from the wealthy, educated citizens. Thankfully American participates in equality because such division could have left Americans ununited from the beginning. -
A Grammatical Institute of English Language
Noah Webster was very dissatisfied with English textbooks of the time period, which lead him to write A Grammatical Institute of English Language consisting of three volumes. Among the three volumes were a spelling book, a grammar book, and a reader. These books became used and relied on across the nation. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 divided the western territories into townships of 640 acres. One of these was set aside for the "maintenance of public schools." This was a big step as it provided educational opportunity for citizens of the United States. -
Northwest Ordinence
In 1787 the Northwest Ordinance not only provided a plan for western expansion and banned slavery in the new states, it also referenced the importance of education in act 3 of the document. It also stipulates that a section of land in every town of every new state should be reserved for education. -
Young Ladies Academy
The Young Ladies Academy was opened in Philadelphia as the first academy for girls in America. -
Connecticut Asylum at Hartford
The Connecticut Asylum at Hartford for the Instruction of Deaf and Dumb persons opened in 1817, and it was cofounded by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc. -
Boston English High School
Boston English High School opened in 1821 as the first public high school. This is important to our everyday life as most American citizens have attended public high schools. Americans take pride in the fact that we are able to provide such a valuable education to our youth. -
Horace Mann's Influence
In 1837 Horace Mann became the Secretary of the newly formed Massachusetts State Board of Education. Mann believes in the "free" schools theory and works tirelessly to increased funding of public schools and better training of teachers. He is the editor of the Common School Journal and he later becomes the first president of Antioch College. -
Elizabeth Blackwell
In 1849 Elizabeth Blackwell graduates from Geneva Medical College becoming the first woman to graduate from medical school. -
First Mandatory Attendence Law
Massachusetts enacts the first mandatory attendance law and by 1885 16 states have compulsory- attendence laws, however those are not well enforced. It isn't until 1918 that all states have mandatory attendence laws. -
Boston Public Library
In 1854 the Boston Public Library opens to the public and becomes the first major tax-supported free library in the United States. -
Civil War's Effect on Education
The Civil War which began in 1861 halts the Educational process until the war is over. This proves that during a time of crisis education is not the most immediate necessity, during this time most students became focused on the war efforts instead of their studies. -
End of the Civil War
After the conclusion of the civil war you would assume that American's would attempt to put life back in order, and continue with the educational advances. However, if you assumed this you are incorrect. After Lee's surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse much of the souths educational institutions were left destroyed and many schools were closed. -
Department of Education
Due to the slow educational development, in 1867 the Department of Education was created in order to help states create school systems. -
The Panic of 1873's Effect
The Panic of 1873 that lead to an economic depression caused reduced revenues for public education. Southern schools were hit particularly hard, making awful situations even worse. -
Hull House
Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr found Hull House in 1889 in a Chicago neighborhood of European immigrants. It is the first settlement house in the United States to include a kindergarten and an adult night school. -
The Association of American Universities
The Association of American Universities is established to encourage high standards, as well as to put American universities on the same level as the European ones. -
Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College in Illinois was opened as the first public community college. This is important as many students rely on community colleges for a full education, or even summer courses. -
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
In 1905 Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching which played an important role in encouraging "seat time" to be regulated to that all children were getting a similar education. -
Educational Psychology: The Psychology of Learning
Edward Lee Thorndike published bis book Educational Psychology: The Psychology of Learning in which he applies and discusses psychological theories to education. Such as he suggests that it involved habit formation and connection between stimuli. -
The Concept of IQ
Louis Terman and a group of Stanford graduate students complete an American version of the Binet-Simon scale. This soon becomes used as an individual intelligence test and with that the concept of the Intelligence quotient (IQ) is born. -
Tennessee vs. John Scopes
In a trial you may have been called "the Monkey Trial" Tennessee and John Scopes capture national recognition as John Scopes, a biology teacher, is charged with teaching Evolution. Although in the end Scopes is convicted the evolution vs. creation controversy still exists. -
Scholastic Amplitude Test
The Scolastic Amplitude Test, that we know today as the SAT was first administered in 1926. It was based off of the Army Alpha test. -
Great Depressions impact on Education
The Great Depression dramatically influenced education. The United States economy was devastated by the October stock market crash, leaving public education with funding issues. Public schools closed, teachers were layed off, and salaries were lowered as a result. -
World War II Effects on Education
The United States entered World War II after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. Throughout the war education suffered, just like it does during any war, as many teachers and young men are drafted or enlist. -
The Computer Age
The computer age begins shortly after the conclusion of World War II as the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), the first vacuum-tube computer, was built for the United States Military. -
Everson vs. Board of Education
In the case of Everson vs. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court rules by a 5-4 vote that a New Jersey law which allowed reimbursements of transportation costs to parents of children who rode public transportation to school, even if their children attended Catholic schools, did notviolate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. -
McCullum vs. Board of Education
In the case McCullum vs. Board of Education the Surpreme Court rules that schools cannot allow "realeased time" during the school day to allow students of varying religions to practice religious education in their public school environment. -
Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka
In the Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka the United States Supreme Court rules that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This caused controversy because it overturned its 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson ruling. -
ACT
In 1959 the ACT test was first administered. -
Engel vs. Vitale
In the case Engel vs. Vitale, the United States Supreme Court rules that the state of New York's prayer violates the First Amendment. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act stated that discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin is prohibtted. This greatly impacted schools because schools are faced with these challenges everyday. -
Lau vs. Nichols
In the Case of Lau vs. Nichols the Supreme Court rules that the failure of the San Francisco School District to provide English training to Chinese-American students is a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
Education of All Handicapped Children Act
The Education of All Handicapped Children requires a free, public school education that is suited to the handicapped childrens needs to be offered in all public schools. -
State of Union Address
President Barack Obama in his 2012 State of Union Address calls for requiring students to stay in school until they graduate from high school or reach the age of 18.
