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Land Ordinance Act of 1785
The Land Ordinance Act of 1785 and similar legislation by the Founding Fathers show the value they placed on education from the beginning of our nation. While education curriculum was left largely to local entities, these acts provided public funding for the building and maintenance of schools. This provided the framework for a more stable nation through citizen engagement in a democratic society. These principles are still important today. See attached bibliography for citations -
Common Schools Movement
Advocates saw The Common Schools Movement as a way to better society as a whole, both socially and economically. The Common Schools Movement contained elements of universal, compulsory education that were publicly funded by trained teachers. These principles have carried over to our current system of public schools. See attached bibliography for citations -
Establishment of 1st Public "Normal" School
The "Normal" Schools were the start of providing specific training and education to future professional teachers. They have evolved into the teaching colleges and education departments of today's universities. Pedagogy, the "art and science" of teaching, and the earning of advance educational degrees have become a large part of the educational curriculum for current and future teachers. See attached bibliography for citations -
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act heralded a new aspect of public education during the post World War 2 era. Many social service programs were implemented in public schools to ensure every child received the best education possible. Some of the programs include free meals, before and after school care, counseling, access to nurses, substance abuse intervention, and violence prevention programs. These programs continue to this day. See attached bibliography for citations -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Brown vs. Board of Education was one of the first major steps into providing equal access to quality education for all children in the U.S. Subsequent legislations, such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1974 Equal Educational Opportunities Act, further codified our nation's ongoing attempts to provide a non-segregated, equitable, and quality education for everyone. See attached bibliography for citations -
National Defense Education Act (NDEA)
The NDEA is the first example of the federal government passing comprehensive education legislation and expanding its role in education. It was passed in response to the Soviet Sputnik satellite launch as a means to ensure national defense by bolstering the education system to produce better mathematicians, scientists, and linguists. The federal government continues to influence the education system today, largely through financial means. See attached bibliography for citations -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The ESEA is a civil rights law intended to ensure better equity in education through the funding of "primary and secondary education, emphasizing high standards and accountability" (Paul, 2016). It is renewed, altered, and often renamed, every five years to this day. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) are more current iterations of this law. See attached bibliography for citations -
Title IX
Title IX is another landmark law that bolsters equity in education in the U.S. to this day. The law ensures gender equality in any educational institution receiving federal money. See attached bibliography for citations -
Education of Handicapped Children Act (EHCA)
This law, and its subsequent revisions such as the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEALS), is another landmark law that ensures equity in education in the U.S. to this day. These laws help ensure children with a wide variety of disabilities have access to a quality education. See attached bibliography for citations -
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Computer Use in Classrooms
Since the early to mid 1980s, technology, specifically the use of computers, has revolutionized the way we educate our children. Computers allow for instantaneous information access, better communications, better engagement by students, and better assessments across all aspects of teaching. Teachers today must be very technologically adept to prepare our students for their futures. See attached bibliography for citations -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
The NCLB is one of the more current iterations of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). It illustrates the changing emphasis on national standards and accountability in education practices in the U.S. today. These practices fuel an ongoing debate regarding the best way to educate our children, as they have both positives and negatives attributes. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has since replaced the NCLB. See attached bibliography for citations