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Education in the Colonial Period
From 1600-1776. Primary education only for white upper-class children whose parents could afford it. The boys and girls recited their lessons until they memorized them. They most commonly used books were the Bible, a primer, and a hornbook. As children grew older their schooling prepared them for their eventual roles in plantation life. While boys studied more advanced, academic subjects, the girls learned to assume the duties of the mistress of a plantation. -
First Education Laws: Massachusetts
Law of 1642. Parents were required make sure that their children knew the principles of religion and the capital laws of the commonwealth. Students would learn these aspects in their schooling. -
The Impact of Jefferson, Rush, & Webster
The Impact of Jefferson, Rush and WebsterMOST IMPORTANT: Jefferson: Jefferson viewed this basic education as instrumental to securing “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” for America
Rush: Wanted American education to be in line with American needs, and work along with the principles of democracy. He was also a proponent of women's education.
Webster: Well known upon the publication of the American -
Common Schools Movement
Common Schools MovementMOST IMPORTANT:Common-school advocates worked to establish a free elementary education accessible to everyone and financed by public funds. They recommended public schools should be accountable to local school boards and state governments. They also helped establish mandatory school attendance laws for elementary-age children. By 1918, such laws existed in all states. -
The Impact of Horace Mann
Horace Mann sought to increase opportunities for all children and create common bonds among an increasingly diverse population. He also argued education could preserve social stability and prevent crime and poverty. -
The Progressive Reform Movement
The Progressive Era (1890-1920). Progressives eagerly challenged that they received wisdom in every aspect of life. Progressivism began as a social movement and grew into a political movement. The early progressives rejected Social Darwinism. They were people who believed that the problems society faced (poverty, violence, greed, racism, class warfare) could best be addressed by providing good education, a safe environment, and an efficient workplace. -
Committee of Ten
The Committee of Ten was a working group of educators that, in 1892, recommended the standardization of American high school curriculum. One philosophy designated American high schools as institutions that would divide students into college-bound and working-trades groups from the start. These institutions sometimes further divided students based on race or ethnic background. Another philosophy attempted to provide standardized courses for all students. -
The Impact of John Dewey
Information on John DeweyMOST IMPORTANT:Dewey's whole approach was truly child-centered. The meaning of this was that there is an emphasis on learning based on the needs and interests of the child- not the teacher, not the core. He believed that children should be allowed to explore their own enviornments. He also believed in connecting multiple subjects when teaching, not just one. This way students are able to pursue interests and and construct their own paths for learning. -
Secondary School Movement
The United States led all other nations in the development of universal and publicly-funded secondary school education and much of the growth occurred from 1910 to 1940. The social capital assembled locally in the early part of the century, which apparently fueled part of the high school movement, continues to contribute to human capital formation. -
World War 2
Because things went so well in the first world war the British government promised they would raise the school leaving age from fourteen to fifteen. This was postponed because of WW2. They also had to make plans to evacuate students. Schools in rural areas often stayed open but had to share their space with evacuees. There was an introduction to the double shift system where the local kids would attend school in the mornings and the evacuees would attend school in the afternoons. -
Brown vs The Board of Education
Information on Brown Vs Board of EducationMOST IMPORTANT: This was perhaps one of the most influential supreme court decisions that was ever made. This began the desegregation of schools. Although there is still some segregation today, for the most part children were given equal opportunity in education. Everyone was given equal opportunity. This put the constitution in favor of racial equality. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This act has been the most far-reaching influence on education thas has ever passed by the United States Congress.The act is a widespread decree that funds primary and secondary education. It focuses equal access to education and sets high standards and responsibility for the students. The bill also aims to decrease the gaps of achievement between students by giving each child equal opportunities to to exceptional -
A Nation At Risk Report
The National Commission on Excellence in Education – appointed by Ronald Reagan – gave the report, “A Nation at Risk.” This report describes a “rising tide of mediocrity” that was tearing away the foundations of society and would be known as an “act of war” if imposed on us by another country. However, many did not agree with that description, leading to slowly increasing NAEP scores and the fact that, as a country, we had begun to educate larger and more diverse populations of students. -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act
Information on This ActMOST IMPORTANT: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has had very positive effects. The act ensures that students with disabilities will have an equal opportunity to learn and that they will be treated fairly. We see this in our own day that there are many students with disabilities in our public schools. The students at my school with disabilities were always the most out-going and popular students and no one ever treated them different. -
The No Child Left Behind Act
This focuses on a standard based education, specically for kids with disabilities. One of the effects was that there was a greater emphasis on annual testing. This is so that they can make sure all students are tested on the same level and they can see the progress of each student. Report cards have also been a great effect because the teachers are able to share with the parents and students the progress they have made and where they still need to be spending time on studying.
