Education Through the centuries By ghezzithegreatest Sep 8, 1636 Havard is founded Harvard becomes the first provider of higher education in what is now America Jan 1, 1693 William and Mary founded Jan 1, 1751 Benjamin Franklin starts the University of Pennsylvania Sep 21, 1801 The Blackboard is used with chalk for the first time Jan 1, 1821 First public high school is opened in Boston Jan 1, 1827 Massachusetts requires towns to have public school Jan 1, 1836 The widely used textbook The McGuffey Reader is published Jan 1, 1918 Mandatory attendance in all states May 17, 1954 In Brown vs Board it is ruled that seperate but equal is unconsitutional Jun 23, 1972 Title IX prohibits discrimination by sex in all areas of schools