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First Education Laws in Massachussettes
Massachussettes Education LawsMOST IMPORTANT
In 1642, laws were passed in Massachussetes that marked the first of education laws in what would become the United States of America. Towns with more than 50 were required to hire a teacher to teach the children reading and writing. Towns with more than 100 were required to provide a grammar schol. This event is important becuse it set a precedent of compulsory education in America. -
Influence of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson's idea that educated citizens were essential to successful democracy contributed to the deep roots of public education in America. -
Influence of Noah Webster
Noah WebsterMost Important Webster believed that education in America should be "American" and not British. He advocated the use of texts that were different from the traditional English schoolbooks and wrote a speller that was based on phonetics rather than spelling. His influence is still seen today in the spelling and pronunciation changes that were made from the English way. -
Horace Mann and Common Schools
Horace Mann was the first Secretary of the Massachussettes Board of Education. He was a proponent of education as an equalizer of men. He promoted his "Common Schools" as a way of educating all the classes and giving them equal opportunities. -
Sarah Roberts Integration Case
Sarah Roberts was an African-American girl who attended school at an all-black elementary that was far from her home. When she was denied admission to white schools closer to where she lived, her father took her case to the state legislature. This was the first legal case regarding desegregation in the U.S. -
Katherine Beecher
Kathering Beecher was responsible for making teaching a respectable profession for women. She encouraged young women to pursue teaching as a career during a time when there was a great expansion of public education and a great need for teachers. -
Committee of Ten
In response to discrepancies in what Americans believed education needed to be, the National Education Association formed the Committee of Ten to decide what should be taught in American Schools. -
Progressivism Reform Movement
The Progressivism Reform Movement that took place near the turn of the century was extremely influential in shaping the nature of public education in America today. This movement enacted child labor laws which allowed children to attend school as well as enacting laws that made school attendance compulsory. -
The Gary Plan
When William Wirt became superindentent of education in Gary, IN he intsituted many changes in the school system. Students were encouraged to move a lot more (in between classes, physical education) and more focus was put on practical knowledge (home economics and mechanics classes). He moved away from the traditional European model of education to a more hands on approach. -
Impact of Immigration
The vast influx of children during this time period forced American Education to accommodate the growing number of children. Changes also had to be made to teach students from many different cultures and backgrounds. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v BoardMost Important This case went all the way to the Supreme Court and finally overturned the "separate but equal" decision from Plessy v. Ferguson years before. It was determined that separate was never equal and made segregation illegal in public schools. This case was a calculated maneuver by the NAACP in which 13 parents were denied admittance for their children in white schools in Topeka, KS. -
Elementary and Secndary Education Act
This act signed into law by President Johnson was part of his war on poverty. It provided an unprecendented amount of federal funding to public schools with a special emphasis on schools in disadvantaged and impoverished areas (Title 1). -
IDEA
IDEAMost Important Before this law was passed, the majority of children with disabilities in the United States were recieving little or no education. There were no provision for them in the current public school system. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ensured that these children would recieve a free, appropirate, public education. The influnces of this Act are still seen today with the integration of individuals with disabilities in the public schools. -
A Nation at Risk Report
A Nation at Risk was a report given to President Reagan that blamed our dimishing power in the global economy to our poor achievement in schools. It showed that academically, the U.S. was severely behind other countries in the world. This report sparked the push for greater accountability and higher standards in American schools. -
No Child Left Behind
No Child Left BehindMost Important The No Child Left Behind act sought to close the achievement gap by prviding more resources to schools in disadvantaged areas and establishing more accountability in teachers and schools. There was more emphasis put on standards and making sure that schools made annual yearly progress (AYP). Students in low performing schools must be given the choice of attending a higher performing school.
