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Education in the Colonial Period
Education was very different for boys and girls during this time and often took place in the comfort of their own home by their mothers. A lot of what they learned was religiously backed up. -
Impact of Jefferson, Rush, and Webster
Thomas Jefferson was an advocate of allowing everyone go to a public school for three years. Benjamin Rush wanted a system of free schools and was also an advocate for women and African Americans. Noah Webster was one of the greatest influences and created the Webster Spelling Book. -
Impact of Horace Mann***
MOST IMPORTANT
Horace Mann believed education as a means for social justice. He was part of the common school movement which was a tax funded, organized, state public education system. Horace Mann wrote journals to teachers and really helped change what the public school system was like to more of what it is like today.
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Population Growth and Immigration in the 19th century
Millions of new kids immigrated to America with their families which made school classrooms much more crowded. Going to school and getting an education was considered part of the American Dream for the immigrants. However, not every kid went to school, a large portion of the kids worked instead of getting an education. -
Impact of John Dewey
John Dewey was a big part of Progressive Education. He believed that people learn better with a "hands on" approach. He believed that everyone is a classroom had equal voice. His views of education were extremely radical for his time. -
The Progressive Reform Movement
The Progressive Reform Movement changed education to more of a learn by doing type of education. Students learned more about social responsibility, democracy, social skills, and critical thinking. The Progressive movement applied to working the entire brain. -
The Impact of WW2
During WW2, the enrollment is school dropped. However, after the war, the GI Bill of Rights was made which allowed people who were in the war be able to further their education. -
Brown vs. Board of Education***
MOST IMPORTANT- Brown vs. Board of Education made "separate but equal" schools unconstitutional. Separate but equal went against the 14th amendment. This case was a major stepping stone in the American society because it desegregated public schools and sparked the Civil Rights Act.
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Sputnik and NDEA***
MOST IMPORTANT- The launch of Sputnik sent America into a panic. Some people thought that the American education system was failing, so the National Defense Education Act was made. This act made it possible for the federal government spend a lot of money reshaping the education system. Technological skills and science were now of much greater importance in the public education system.
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The Civil Rights Movement and The War on Poverty***
MOST IMPORTANT- The war on poverty helped subsidize school districts that had a lot of impoverished students. The Civil Rights Movement was a huge step in the right direction for our country. Many people disagreed with desegregation and equality for all, but that didn't stop people from fighting for what they want.
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Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This act was passed in part of LBJ's War on Poverty. This Act provided more resources and financial aid to schools. -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act
The Individual with Disabilities Act provided free public education for any disabled person in the least restrictive environment. -
Growth of Standardized Testing
The obsession that arose with standardized testing narrowed curriculum and made it harder for teachers to be creative. This was like a backward step from the Progressive Movement. -
A Nation at Risk Report
This was a landmark event in the American public education system. People believed that schools were failing and they needed to be reformed. -
No Child Left Behind***
MOST IMPORTANT- This was like an updated version of The Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It held schools more accountable of the outcome of their students. It helped boost progress of all students, especially those of different ethnic backgrounds, those with special education, and those who are disadvantaged. There is still a large focus on this in our classrooms today.
