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Thomas Jefferson once said, “if a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Jefferson's idea of public education was seen as "radical" during his time. Jefferson is significant because he gave us the idea for public education, which is still used today
http://dailysignal.com/2013/04/14/18th-century-advice-thomas-jefferson-on-education-reform/ -
Noah Webster was known as the "Schoolmaster of America." He published textbooks to "eliminate British textbooks and teach about America." His Blue Back Speller has never been out of print, and we even have a dictionary named after him!
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Horace Mann was the First Secretary of Education. He developed early public schools, or common schools. He rode horseback from district to district improving school conditions. Mann's contribution is still seen today-- we are continually finding ways to improve the condition of our schools and better train our teachers.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Horace-Mann -
A group of educators got together and suggested that high school curriculum be standardized and college-oriented.
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Immigrants coming to America during this time caused overcrowded classrooms.
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John Dewey is known as the Father of Progressive Education. He believed in investing in the whole child. I believe that Dewey's contribution is important and still seen today because we focus on each child's social, emotional, intellectual, and physical growth and well-being.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/dewey/ -
The purpose of this school was to "make every working man a scholar, and every scholar a working man." It was very interactive with many resources and possibilities for it's students to get involved.
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The Supreme Court ruled that separate public schools for black and white students was unconstitutional. This date is significant because it was the first step in making education equal to everyone. Today, schools are filled with a mix of people coming from various cultures and backgrounds.
http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/history-brown-v-board-education-re-enactment -
During the Civil Rights Movement, discrimination of race was banned in public schools. Schools could lose federal funding if segregation continued.
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After Sputnik's launching, the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) was created. The purpose of the NDEA was to improve and strengthen the American school system and to encourage students to continue their education beyond high school.
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The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was part of Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty." It provides federal funds to help students coming from low-income families.
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The School Choice Movement was all about creating various schooling options for students. An individual wouldn't have to attend the school closest to home. Parents and students could choose between alternative and regular schools. Competition was a huge factor in this movement.
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IDEA stands for "Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act." It provides free and appropriate education to individuals with disabilities. I believe that IDEA is one of the most important documents in educational history because it provides so many people with an opportunity to learn in their least-restrictive environment.
http://www.washington.edu/doit/what-individuals-disabilities-education-act -
The report "A Nation at Risk" was given by the National Commission on Excellence in Education. This report called for reforms in public education and teacher training. It also included the addition of computer science study in high school.
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This law reauthorized the ESEA of 1965 and replaced the Bilingual Education Act. It requires a lot of student testing and holds schools accountable for achievement levels of their students.
