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John Locke
John Locke was one of the first philosophers to say that children are molded by their surrounding. He believed that nurture has a greater impact on a child's development and learning than nature does. Since he believed that children can become who we wnat them to be based on what they are taught, he beileved that education should begin early in life. His theories still have influces in today's education system. -
Jean-Jacgues Rousseau
Rousseau was a philosopher who believed that nature has more influence on children's devlopment than nurture. He beileved that children all developed in the same sequence. His philosphy suggested that children should be taught through more natural techniques. He did not believe that teachers or adults could have a huge impact on who a child grew up to be. He believed observing children in their natural enviroment was important. -
John Dewy
Dewey headed the progressive educaction movement. He beileved that school should be a place where children learn based on their interest and based on real world application. The progressive movement focused on the child and preparing them for the future. Dewey's movement was the beginning for child-centered education. -
Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori developed a theory of teaching that is the basis for thousands of Montessori schools throughout the world. One aspect of her theory focues on providing children with specifically designed sensory manipulatives and activities. Montessori also encouraged the idea that classrooms be strategically and intentialy set up before students enter. Her thoery views children as having inherent natural abilities that they can develop on their own through directed play. -
Jean Piaget
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development outlined the stages that every child goes through as they grow. He believed that children need physical and mental activities to guide their progression through the stages of development. His influence is important when it comes to designing cirruculum and activities that are appropriate to the children's cognitive stage. -
Erik Erikson
Erikson beileved that social and cognitive development are inherently linked. His theory states that children need to learn through socializing with their peers, and how adults interact with children has a huge impact on how they grow. He also believed that children need to be taken care of emotionally. A big part of meeting all the social, emothional and cognitive needs of children is to give them ample time to learn through play. -
Urie Bronfenbrenner
Bronfenbrenner developed a bioecological model which showed the influences of a child's enviroemnt in relation to them. He included very direct influences such as their parents and their schooling and he worked his way out to the most broad influences such as their culture. His model demonstrates how important it is to understand all the influences in a child's life to better understand the child. It is also important that adults try to have possitive influences on children's enviroments. -
Sputnik
When The Soviet Union launched the world's first satelite, Stutnik, it fed into America's fear of their power. This sparked America's push to fund education and resulted in the creation of the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) and the funding of science, technology, egineering and math (STEM). This race to focus on STEM has resulted in a large focus on science and math in schools, which changed the direction of education. -
Loris Malaguzzi (Reggio Emilia)
In the 1970's Malaguzzi was practicing a method of teaching coined the Reggio Emilia Approach. This method is fueled by the idea that all children have the right to be given opportunities to reach their potential on their own. The principals of Reggio Emilia include children's rights to express themselves, control their learning, learn through experiences, and interact meaningfully with their peers and their surroundings. -
Act 166
In 2015 Vermont implimented Act166 Universal Prekindergarten. Under Act 166 all children will be funded by the state to attend preschool. The state will pay $3,000 for any preschool age student (3-5 years old) to attend any ACT166 qualified preschool for 10 hours per week for 35 weeks out of the year. This act is meant to help give families who could not otherwise afford it access to quality preschool for their children.
