History of Multicultural Education

'Thought and Language'

Jan 1, 1962

Lev Vygotsky's creation, brought into existence several decades prior, became a vital part of the foundation and evolution of what would become multicultural education. He opposed the current ideas about how learning/socialization worked. He hypothesized "that it was [not] possible to separate learning from its social context." ("Social Constructivism")
Berkeley Graduate Division. (n.d.) Retrieved from
https://gsi.berkeley.edu/gsi-guide-contents/learning-theory-research/social-constructivism/

Consequences of the Cuban Revolution and the Floridian Education System

Jan 1, 1963

After the Cuban Revolution ended, waves of Cuban families fled to Miami, Florida to escape the oppression. Due to this sudden influx, it was decided these children needed educational accommodation to meet their needs. Creating "the first bilingual and bicultural public school in the United States" (Sass, 2018): Coral Way Elementary.
Sass, E. (n.d.). American Educational History: A Hypertext Timeline.
Retrieved January 13, 2019, from http://www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html

Samuel A. Kirk

Jan 1, 1963

Kirk coined the "term 'learning disability'" (Sass) and what sprang from it would eventually become the Learning Disabilities Association of America. This group has successfully allowed many people with "perceptual disorders" (Sass) to be accommodated so they're successful academically and given the chance to become productive citizens.
Sass, E. (n.d.). American Educational History: A Hypertext Timeline. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from http://www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

Apr 9, 1965

The passing of this Act was quite a milestone at the time for those who couldn't afford an education. With the availability of federal money in order to pay for the education to help better their children's lives, people from below the poverty line were able to access education on an easier level in order to brighten the next generation's future. Thus potentially allowing their children the ability to go to college and achieve the education to live even better than they ever dreamed of.

1965 Immigration Act

Oct 3, 1965

When the Hart-Celler Act was signed into law, the melting pot of various different cultures from around the globe began blending into American schools. This made them much more multiethnic and multicultural. Rather than just having a single group be a part of them, this provided a special opportunity for all the students. This, undoubtedly, made the school environments much more rich in learning about people who were vastly different in many aspects from the students who first began attending.

The Indian Education Act

Jan 1, 1972

This Act provided a step forward for these groups in it was "a comprehensive approach to meeting the unique needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students." (Sass) It was a monumental concept due to the history with Europeans since they had first arrived. It acknowledged these groups' need to be integrated in the education system.
Sass, E. (n.d.). American Educational History: A Hypertext Timeline. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from http://www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html

Case of Lau v. Nichols

Jan 1, 1974

This was a milestone for students whose first language was not English. This case made it clear students who did not necessarily have a working knowledge of English (Sass) - particularly the Chinese in this instance - should still have the opportunity to attend school and get the proper English instruction they needed at the same time.
Sass, E. (n.d.). American Educational History: A Hypertext Timeline. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from http://www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html

National Association of Bilingual Education

Jan 1, 1975

The founding of this group elevated the teachers who taught in bilingual schools and the students who attended them, among many other things with the information they desperately needed. NABE also allowed the teaching of bilingualism rather than force-taught English. This greatly allowed diversity to flow throughout the American Educational System where it was allowed to. Broadened horizons were also greatly increased by having NABE in existence to enable multiculturalism to flourish.

Ebonics

Jan 1, 1996

Oakland, California made an absolutely astounding suggestion, which was "that Ebonics be recognized as the native language of African American children." (Sass) This opportunity would undoubtedly allow more black children and adults to learn in the dialect of English that they were most comfortable with and knew best.
Sass, E. (n.d.). American Educational History: A Hypertext Timeline. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from http://www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)

Jan 1, 2007

Once this group had solidified its name, they also "join[ed] the trend toward use of the term [']intellectual disability['] in place of mental retardation." (Sass) This allowed more people with these conditions to feel far more included and validated rather than being left to the sidelines because of their conditions.
Sass, E. (n.d.). American Educational History: A Hypertext Timeline. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from http://www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html