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Education in the Colonial Period
Education was paid for by wealthy families for their children. These children learned simple lessons in reading, writing, arithmetic, and prayers. This kind of education started as soon as people started coming here to settle from Europe. -
The Impact of Jefferson, Rush, & Webster
MOST IMPORTANT. Jefferson, Rush, Webster are the fathers of education in America. Jefferson proposed the "Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge" in 1779. He knew that if every citizen had the chance to vote, that every citizen should have at least some formal education. I think that this is one of the most important because it was the beginning. It got us on a right path so that we all can be educated! (https://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/bill-more-general-diffusion-knowledge) -
Northwest Land Ordinance
This ordinance said that a portion of land had to be set aside to support a public school in each township. -
Common Schools
Common schools were a concept pushed by Horace Mann becoming popular in the 1830's. -
Population Growth and Immigration in the 19th century
Immigration brought thousands of people to the United States, along with their cultures and religions. This caused conflict in a Protestant based school system. It also caused a problem in finding places for all of these children to go to school. -
The Impact of John Dewey
John Dewey was the founder of progressive education. He believed in a more hands on approach to learning. -
Committee of Ten
This committee suggested the idea of a standardized high school program. -
Secondary School Movement
In the early 1900's more towns started to build and push attendance to secondary schools. This gave more students opportunities to gain a higher level of education. The movement spread from 1910 and 1940. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
MOST IMPORTANT. In this case, Brown fought for the right to attend a white school. They fought that "separate but equal" education was not equal. Brown won! There were a lot of people that were upset about it. Brown had to be escorted into the school through a mob. This is important because it shows that if you care about education, and fight for what is right, you can see a change. (http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka) -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
MOST IMPORTANT. This law was written during Lyndon Johnson's presidency. Johnson fought hard for all students to have equal rights. This act forced schools to integrate if they wanted to receive federal funding. A decade after the Brown vs. the Board of Education, schools in the south integrated! This act shows that there are people that are willing to fight for the well being of students! (https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-of-1965/) -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act
This act made it so children with disabilities were able to receive an education in the less restrictive environment. For most of those students, that meant the mainstream public education classroom. -
A Nation at Risk Report
MOST IMPORTANT. The Nation at Risk report was written because Ronald Reagan was worried about education in America. Because of this document graduation standards became higher, school days were longer, and the curriculum was made more challenging. There are differing views on whether this document was needed or not. But Reagan wanted our education standards to be closer to others around the world. A Nation at Risk -
The Standards Movement
The standards movement started after "A Nation at Risk" was published. It pushed for higher graduation standards. -
Growth of Standardized Testing
Because of the higher standards, we needed a way to assess that students were being taught all of those standards in school every year. That's when standardized tests started to spread and be mandatory. -
No Child Left Behind
MOST IMPORTANT. The No Child Left Behind act is a federal law that provides extra funds for poor children's education. The purpose of it is to put more money into their education now, so they can put more into society in the future. It is a newer version of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act. I think that this is one of the most important because it shows that education is always changing. No Child Left Behind
