Evolutiuon of the American Education System

General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Jan 1, 1647

<a href='https://www.raceforward.org/research/reports/historical-timeline-public-education-us' >The General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony decrees that every town of fifty families should have an elementary school and that every town of 100 families should have a Latin school. The goal is to ensure that Puritan children learn to read the Bible and receive basic information about their Calvinist religion. (Only the YEAR on this date is accurate)

Northwest Territory

Jan 1, 1785

The Continental Congress (before the U.S. Constitution was ratified) passes a law calling for a survey of the "Northwest Territory" which included what was to become the state of Ohio. The law created "townships," reserving a portion of each township for a local school. From these "land grants" eventually came the U.S. system of "land grant universities," the state public universities that exist today. Of course in order to create these townships, the Continental Congress assumes it has the right to give away or sell land that is already occupied by Native people. (Only the YEAR on this date is accurate)

Free Public Education

Jan 1, 1790

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. (Only the YEAR on this date is accurate)

Boston Town Meeting

Jan 1, 1817

A petition presented in the Boston Town Meeting calls for establishing of a system of free public primary schools. Main support comes from local merchants, businessmen and wealthier artisans. Many wage earners oppose it, because they don't want to pay the taxes. (Only the YEAR on this date is accurate)

Plessy v. Ferguson

May 18, 1896

Plessy v. Ferguson decision. The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the state of Louisiana has the right to require "separate but equal" railroad cars for Blacks and whites. This decision means that the federal government officially recognizes segregation as legal. One result is that southern states pass laws requiring racial segregation in public schools.

G.I. Bill

Jun 22, 1944

At the end of World War 2, the G.I. Bill of Rights gives thousands of working class men college scholarships for the first time in U.S. history.

Taxpayers' Revolt

Period: Jan 1, 1978 to Jan 1, 1998

The so-called "taxpayers' revolt" leads to the passage of Proposition 13 in California, and copy-cat measures like Proposition 2-1/2 in Massachusetts. These propositions freeze property taxes, which are a major source of funding for public schools. As a result, in twenty years California drops from first in the nation in per-student spending in 1978 to number 43 in 1998. (Only the YEARS of these dates are accurate)

Poverty

Jan 1, 2000

In 2000, students who were eligible for free or reduced-price meals made up at least half of the student body in four states. (Only the YEAR in this date is accurate)

Southern Education Foundation Study

Oct 1, 2013

The October 2013 Southern Education Foundation study indicates clearly that poverty, which has long been the biggest obstacle to educational achievement, is more important than ever. (Only the MONTH and YEAR of this date are accurate)