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Education in Colonial Period
The Puritans helped drive education at this time. They felt it was important that all children be educated for religious instruction and salvation, as well as to be good citizens. -
Impact of Thomas, Rush, and Webster
Thomas Jefferson believed that children needed to be educated to ensure good government, public safety, and happiness. Benjamin Rush supported public support for free schools and that all people should be educated, including women and blacks. Noah Webster in an effort to gain cultural independence from England created a number of American spellers and text books. Most noted of these was known as the Blue Back Speller. -
Common School Movement
The American Education System began to take form at this time. Schools would be publicly supported and provide a common education for all students. -
Impact of Horace Mann
MOST IMPORTANT: He is known as the "Father of Education". He campaigned for increased public support of education. While in position as the secretary of the state board of education in Massachusetts, he published annual reports on the state of schools and made recommendations for Improvement.
Education is still publicly funded today and reports are published about the state of schools.(https://www.nas.org/articles/ask_a_scholar_what_impact_did_horace_mann_have_on_american_public_education) -
The Proressive Movement
The Progressive Movement called for big changes in the current school system. This movement called for consideration of not just the intellectual needs of children but also the social, emotional, and physical needs. -
The Gary Plan
MOST IMPORTANT
William Wirt designed an efficient plan for running schools in Gary, Indiana based on progressive thinking. Students were organized into groups and rotated to different areas of the school learning both academic and practical skills. All areas of the school were being used all day. The plan was seen as prototype for other schools in the country. This plan is used in public schools today, where students rotate between classes. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gary-Plan) -
Measurement Movement
In the early 20th century some intelligence tests had been created as a way to measure intelligence. World War I propelled this Measurement Movement forward because the military needed to know which men were suited for service. As a result other group intelligence tests were created and given to many recruits. -
Brown vs Board of Education
This land mark case ended segregation of schools. It was met with resistance and actually took years for some school to desegregate. -
Sputnik
The launch Sputnik had a huge impact on education. In 1958 the National Defense in Education Act passed and revised school curriculum to include the latest in math and science threories. -
War on Poverty
During this time about a quarter of the nations children were living in poverty. Legislation was passed to subsidize housing, improve health care, and expand welfare and job training. There were also measures put in place to help insure a quality education for impoverished students. -
The Civil Rights Act 1964
MOST IMPORTANT The passage of this act help to permanently end segregation in schools. This act prohibited schools receiving national funds to discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Schools in violation had their federal funds withheld. All public schools today are open to all children, regardless of race, color, or ethnic origin.
(http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-act) -
Individuals with Disabilities Act
Up to this point disabled children were not welcome in public schools. The passage of this act allowed children with disabilities to be educated in regular public schools in the least restrictive environments possible. -
A Nation at Risk Report
Comprehensive report on the current state of education in the United States. It was described as contributing to "a rising tide of mediocrity" that was eroding society. -
The Standards Movement
MOST IMPORTANT Standards and accountability became were key in educational reform in the 1990's. It was difficult to come to an agreement on what these academic standards should be. By the end of the 1990's academic standards were set for all subjects. These standards have led to many of the high stakes testing schools participate in today to show accountability for teaching the standards.
(http://www.naeducation.org/cs/groups/naedsite/documents/webpage/naed_080866.pdf) -
School Choice
MOST IMPORTANT Many parents were unhappy with public education and thought they should have a choice in where to send their students to receive what they felt was adequate education. This led to an increase in number of students attending charter schools and private schools. This is a common practice in communities today.
(https://www.edchoice.org/school-choice/what-is-school-choice/)
