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Jun 1, 1522
Martin Luther translates the Bible into German
By translating the Bible into the common language of his country, Luther made reading in one’s native language a possibility. He was also a proponent of establishing schools to teach children how to read. Having literate children would eventually lead them to become literate adults, and a better educated population in general. -
John Locke‘s theory of the mind as a blank slate
Locke is the father of the idea of the mind as a blank slate. For him, nature did not matter; nurture was what developed the mind and made the person what s/he would become. A child’s mind was formed by the people and experiences around him or her. While most theorists believe nature does indeed play a big role in a child’s development, Locke’s theory has given credence to the idea of educating children at an early age, regardless of outside and seemingly disadvantageous circumstances. -
Robert Owen opens first infant school in Scotland
Owen believed that the environments surrounding a child would play a major role in shaping how they developed. Because of this belief and the belief that early education could form a child’s character, he opened the first infant school for ages one and a half to ten years. This move was also motivated in part by his belief that educating children early and forming their character could create a kind of utopia, or ideal society. He believed an improved education would create an improved society. -
Friedrich Wilhelm Froebel’s “garden of children” theory makes him the father of the kindergarten
Froebel is considered to be the “father of the kindergarten.” He was a strong believer in the concept of unfolding--an idea also held by Rousseau--and thought that children learned best in a natural way that catered to their development. The name kindergarten came from his metaphor of children as flowers and teachers as gardeners--the child would bloom and grow if s/he was nurtured and cared for in a safe environment. Froebel was also a huge proponent of the concept of learning through play. -
Maria Montessori opens the first Montessori school
Mainly interested in creating a program that would help children with disabilities, Montessori opened her first school to implement her philosophy of education. She believed that children with disabilities could learn just as well if they were given the opportunity to do so and the correct environment. She firmly believed that the right environment was crucial to a child’s success. Her method was sensory-based, and she believed respect for children was also a critical part of their success. -
Abraham Maslow‘s hierarchy of needs is published
Maslow developed his hierarchy of needs in a pyramid model, with the understanding that lower levels must be satisfied before higher levels can be reached. The most basic level is physiological needs, followed by safety, love/belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization. In an educational context, this showed educators that a child’s basic needs had to be met before his or her learning abilities can kick in. For example, if a child is hungry or cold all the time, s/he will not learn optimally. -
Education as a national defense
During the Cold War, the need for better education became apparent. Russia appeared to be ahead, especially in areas such as math, science, and technology. The United States decided that the best way to combat this threat was through better education of children. Congress passed the National Defense Education Act and launched better programs in schools across the country, focusing on math, science, technology, and engineering. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This act provided better funding for elementary and secondary education. It also established programs such as free and reduced price lunches for families who could not afford full price, thereby affording better nutrition to children who might otherwise go without a meal. Another benefit of the act was that it funded such programs as tutoring, after-school care, and summer programs, all of which can be beneficial for children who need the extra care and attention to excel in school.