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The "lead" pencil was invented.
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The first public school in the American colonies, Boston Latin School, opens.
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Harvard College becomes the first higher education institution.
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The first printing press in the American Colonies is set up at Harvard College.
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Wooden paddles called "The Horn Book" with printed lessons were popular in the colonial era. This was also used for punishment.
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An evening school for working children is established.
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Quaker school for black students established in Philadelphia.
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The notion of the voucher system is established.
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Pennsylvania state constitution calls for free public education but only for poor children. It is expected that rich people will pay for their children's schooling.
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First public high school in the U.S., Boston English, opens.
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Massachusetts passes a law making all grades of public school open to all pupils free of charge.
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The first school for children with mental disabilities opens in Massachusetts.
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The use of a ferule in schools. This is a pointer and also a corporal punishment device.
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The Children's Aid Society of New York implements the first school lunch program.
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A sex education program is introduced citywide in public high schools in Chicago, Illinois.
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Mandatory school attendance becomes compulsory in every United States state for children through elementary school.
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Classrooms begin incorporating radios into penmanship, accounting, history, and arithmetic lessons.
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Photocopying is widely used.
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The Supreme Court ruling in Engel v Vitale forbids organized prayer in public schools. The following year, reading the Bible is banned.
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Texas Instruments develops the first hand-held calculator.
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Dell computer is founded.
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SmartBoards are introduced.
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Signed into law by President George W. Bush, No Child Left Behind increases federal funding for education and ushers in standards-based reform.
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President Barack Obama's Race to the Top program ushers in a wave of education reforms as states compete for federal grants in the midst of a recession.
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1.5 Million IPads are used in United States schools.