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Jefferson's Proposition
In 1778, Thomas Jefferson drafted a proposition guaranteeing 3 years of public school for all children. It was voted down 3 times in this timespan. -
Blue Backed Speller
Wbster published the Blue Backed Speller.It taught students about the United States while teaching them how to Spell and pronounce words differently than many of the British words, thus creating an "American" language. This was a forerunner for Webster's American Dictionary. -
Horace Mann appointed secretary for Board of Education of MA
Horace Mann was appointed secretary to the newly created Board of education. One of his most famous activities was his twelve Annual Reports. He wrote very detailed reports on the conditions, buildings, adminstrators, duties, teaching methods, support, libraries, resources, etc., which he personally observed in thousands of schools. He argued that education should be free and universal, a controversial idea at the time. -
Fun Fact
The average attendance in Massachusetts was 4 months. The average cost per pupil was $2.81. -
Fun Facts
The average attendence in Massachusetts was 7 months. The average cost per pupil was $4.80. -
End of Slavery
When general Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, the Civil War was over. This signified the end to legalized slavery. Although segregation would remain for over a hundered more years, this was a huge first step in education for african-americans. -
Fun Facts
50% of children were attending school. The average schooling was 5 years. 6% of 17-year-olds graduated from high school. -
IQ Test
The Binet Test, later known as the IQ test, was created by French Psychologist Alfred Binet. It was and is a tool used to measure the intelligence of students. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
Among other things, it made it illegal for children under 18 to work at dangerous jobs, and it made it illegal for children under 16 to work at all. This played a huge role in ending child labor, which in turn played a role in promoting education in America's youth. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
The US supreme court unanimously voted that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, thus overturning the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision allowing segregation. Although not the cure, this court ruling was the first step towards desegregating public schools. -
Sputnik
The Russians won the space race by launching Sputnik. This greatly changed education in America, causing curriculums to become extremely science and engineering focused. -
The Civil Rights Act
This law made major forms of segregation illegal. It affected unequal voter registration, work place segregation, and especially segregation in the school system. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This bill prohibits a national curriculum, and provides funding for primary and secondary education. It aimed at closing the achievment gap, as well as providing equal oppurtunity for education. -
Equal Oppurtunity in Education Act
This law prohibited all forms of gender discrimination in any federally funded education. -
NY Choice Program
New York starts the "Choice" program, which allows parents alternative schools for their students if wanted. It was the first time parents had a choice with public schools. -
NCLB
George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act. It was a law designed to increase the accountability of schools and teachers, and to eliminate the achievement gap in America. It has placed a hightened importance on testing results.