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Independence from Great Britain
The United States gained its freedom from Great Britain. They are now able to make their own school system. -
*Jefferson's Proposal*
Jefferson made a proposal for 3 years of schooling for all kids. Girls would get enough schooling to get to marriage. Slaves were offered no school at all. This was the start of the push for public education. This is affecting our schools today because now we have public education for everyone to take part in, and without Jefferson to start it we wouldn't have what we have now.
Find more: https://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/excursions/thomas-jefferson-public-education-part-1 -
*Noah Webster*
Noah Webster published his Speller book which created new national language that was different from Great Britain's. It became the national textbook. This is still impacting school today because of the Webster dictionaries that are used in schools everyday.
You can find more information here: https://www.historyisfun.org/blog/all-about-the-revolution/the-blue-backed-speller/ -
Horace Mann
Horace Mann founded schools in different towns that were supported by local taxes and fees charged to parents. The schools varied from town to town. Richer families were able to keep kids in school for longer. Poor families were not able to go at all. -
Segregated Schools
The blacks in the south were not allowed education, but in the north they were allowed to go to "blacks only" schools. There were only 2 schools in Boston for them to go to. -
Philadelphia Bible Riots
The people were fighting because schools taught the Protestant religion and would teach things about Catholics that were offensive and rude. The Catholics didn't want to go to those schools and were fighting to get things changed in schools. During the riot the Catholic church was burned to the ground. -
*Robert's Case (Roberts v. City of Boston)*
Sarah Roberts dad sewed the city of Boston because he wanted his daughter to go to a school in his region and he wanted to stop discrimination against blacks. His case made it to court in 1849. This was the start of ending segregation and with out this passionate man, segregation could have lasted a lot longer.
Find more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberts_v._City_of_Boston -
1st Law in Nation for Integration
A law was passed in the state of Massachusetts that blacks could attend school with whites. This was the first law of its kind in the Nation. -
Civil War Ended
The Civil War is over and blacks are now free to become literate. -
Separate but Equal
They passed a law that the blacks and whites would still be separate in schools, but they would teach them the same things in school. They would be equal but still separated. -
School Bells
In 1903 school bells were put in place in New York City to let kids know when to move to the next class. -
Schools in 1950
3 out of 5 students graduated high school in 1950 and almost 50% of them went on to college. -
*Brown vs Board of Education*
Charles Sumner's case was at court and the law passed that all American public schools would be desegregated. They ruled that the segregation of schools was unconstitutional and the "separate but equal" services were NOT equal at all. This is still affecting our schools today because now every student, no matter their race, gets the same education opportunities.
Find more here: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
*IDEA*
Individuals with Disabilities Act. The law passed that all students with disabilities would get a free and appropriate education. This is affecting our schools now because students with disabilities are now able to be in a normal classroom for part or all of the day to get an education and to help them with their future.
Find more: https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/your-childs-rights/basics-about-childs-rights/individuals-with-disabilities-education-act-idea-what-you-need-to-know -
Schools in 1980
Almost entire school age population was enrolled in school, over 85% of them graduated, and majority continued on to college. -
IDEA Access
Students with disabilities got not only access to be in public schools, but they got access to the general education curriculum.
