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Education Laws Passed in New England
These laws passed in Massachusetts required the establishment of schools and laid the cornerstone of local responsibility. Although religious materials were often used these laws did establish a sort of separation of church and state that was later included in the constitution. These laws served as models for other colonies in New England. Although the establishment of schools was required by law, enforcement was not consistent. -
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Education in the Southern Colonies
Educational Opportunities determined by social class and often consisted of having private tutors. The overall education level in the Southern colonies was below that of the Northern colonies.There were very few if any opportunities for African Americans to receive an education as the fear of white people was that if slaves were able to read and write they would become a danger to the institution of slavery. -
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Common School Movement
Common Schools were developed as a "way to give all children, no matter what their cultural, religious, or economic backgrounds a common experience that would help them to understand one another and provide a common basis for citizenship" (Kushner, p. 40). Common schools conflicted with those who wished to educate children in a religious school particularly Catholics as the focus of the curriculum was non-denominational protestantism. They did increase public financial support for education. -
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Reconstruction/Immigration
The Freedmen's Bureau was created to help assist the provision of black schools. The 14th Amendment was passed in which civil rights became federal and as a result access to public education for African Americans was increased albeit often in segregated schools. As more immigrants entered the U. S. there was a push in schools to assimilate the children of immigrants and Native Americans into American culture disregarding cultures of immigrants and Native Americans. -
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Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court ruled that "separate but equal" was constitutional thus setting back the integration of public schools especially in the south. The reality was that schools for white students and black students were not equal in the quality of instructional resources or the facilities themselves. -
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New Deal/Depression
During the 1930's, there was a move to move away from the policy of assimilation that had been in place for many years. There was a greater recognition of the value of other cultures and language. This was especially true for Native Americans. This movement facilitated bilingual education initiatives. -
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Brown v. Topeka BOE
The Supreme Court reversed Plessy v. Ferguson thus deeming segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Despite the Supreme Court's ruling it took time and other events for segregation to end. -
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Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act was passed prohibiting discrimination against students on the basis of race, color or national origin in all institutions (including schools) receiving federal funds. -
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Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Several pieces of legislation were passed from the mid 1960's to the mid 1970's that impacted the culture of education. One of the most significant was the passage of ESEA which included the Title I provision that provided assistance to local schools for the education of children from low-income families. It also was expanded to include programs for Native Americans, children of migrant workers, the handicapped and children with limited English language skills. -
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Limited English Speaking Ability and Bilingual Education Acts
These two pieces of legislation addressed that LESA students have special needs that must be addressed to have equal opportunities to learn. The BEA legislated that instruction be provided in both English and a child's native language. -
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Title IX
Title IX is legislation that says no person in the United States shall on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. -
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Multicultural Education/Global Education
Recently, multicultural education has been a focus directing attention to issues of equity among domestic populations. A focus on global education has also started to emerge in which students learn about those problems and issues that cut across national boundaries as well as looking at the interconnectedness of different cultures around the world.