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The Impact of Jefferson, Rush, & Webster
Jefferson introduced a bill in 1779 that would provide a basic education to "the masses," including girls (but for only 3 years).
Rush had a similar plan as Jefferson. He also was an advocate for educating women & African Americans. He was against the death penalty and advocated for an institution for the mentally ill. He and Benjamin Franklin formed the first abolitionist society in Philadelphia.
Webster believed in free schools. He created the "blue back speller," which sold 75 millon copies. -
Elementary Spelling Book Published
Referred to as the "Blue Back Speller," this book sold nearly 75 million copies. Noah Webster believed that by creating a distinct national language and curriculum, America could rid itself of European influence. -
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The Influence of Catherine Beecher
Beecher was the founder of the Hartford Female Seminary and the Western Institute for Women. She was a strong supporter of the Common School and also was a proponent of training women as teachers. -
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Academies for Women
These academies provided an opportunity for women to further their education. In addition, they trained women to be educators (which was one of the few "acceptable" occupations for women at the time. -
Common School Movement
http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1871/Common-School-Movement.html
1830-1865
The Common School Movement enabled all children (regardless of social class, gender, religion, ethnicity, or country of origin) to attend school and was paid for by taxation of the public. Previous to this, only children from wealthy families could afford an education. -
The Impact of Horace Mann
http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/horace.html
May 4, 1796 - August 2, 1859 Horace Mann, often called "The Father of American Education," was a proponent of the Common School Movement. He promoted the idea that all children, regardless of wealth, national orgin, or sex, should have access to an education paid for by the government (through taxation). Mann also fought for better supplies and facilities for schools and he advocated for increased teacher preparation. -
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Frederick Douglas's Role in Education
Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and became an abolitionst, social reformer, statesman, orator, and writer. Douglass was also a supporter of Women's Suffrage. He advocated the education of African Americans.
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
― Frederick Douglass -
The Impact of John Dewey
http://www.biography.com/people/john-dewey-9273497#philosophy
1859-1952: Dewey was an educator, social reformer, and philosopher. He was a proponent of Progressive Education, which focused on the "whole child" and emphasized "learning by doing." Quote about women: “You think too much of women in terms of sex. Think of them as human individuals for a while, dropping out the sex qualification, and you won’t be so sure of some of your generalizations about what they should and shouldn't do." -
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The Impact of the Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement came about as a response to the racism, segregation, oppression, and Jim Crow laws, that affected African Americans. One of the outcomes of the Civil Rights Movement is the desegregation of American schools. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_brown.html Filed against the Topeka Kansas School Board, Brown vs. Board of Education was a Surpreme Court decision that banned segregation in America's schools. Previous to this ruling, it was thought that schools should be "separate but equal." The argument in this case was that African American schools were not provided with equal funding (for facilities, books, supplies, etc.) as the White schools were. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
As part of President Johnson's "War of Poverty," the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provided federal funds to improve the quality of education at elementary and secondary schools. It was later reauthorized as the law: No Child Left Behind. -
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/tix_dis.html Title IX of the Educational Amendments reads:
"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." In essence, any schools receiving federal funds cannot discriminate based on sex. This law applies to education, athletics, and more. -
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Prior to the passage of IDEA, schools were not required to provide an education to students with disabilities. After it's passage, students with disabilities were entitled to a free, appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. -
A Nation at Risk Report
The Nation at Risk Report, appointed by Ronald Regan, stated that education in the U.S. was erroding. Although there was sufficient data to refute this data, it nevertheless made a huge impact on education. For example, the report was directly responsible for increased standardized testing, longer school days, more teacher training, and more emphasis on technology. -
No Child Left Behind
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is a law that reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It's purpose was to create standards that all children would have to meet and held schools responsible to bring all students up to the same level.
