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John Amos Comenius
John Amos Comenius, better know as the "Father of Modern Education" for pioneering modern educational methods. Comenious was the first to use pictures in textbooks, taught education in the early childhood and advocated for women to have formal education. He believed in Pansophism (meaning all knowledge) and believed that learning, spiritual, and emotional worked together to pursue higher learning and spiritual enlightenment. -
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
Juana Ines was born in San Miguel, Mexico where her intelligence was know throughout the country. In 1667, she became a nun so she could study at will, during which she wrote plays and poems. . People today continue to use her poetic models. Juana Ines defended the rights for women to have access to education and was the first published feminist of the New World. Her most famous poem, "Hombres necios" (Foolish Men), discussed a man's view on women wanting to study and learn. -
John Locke
John Locke published Some Thoughts Concerning Education in 1693. Many regarded the education of children as indifferent, specifically because children were thought as "playthings, simple animals, or miniature adults who were supposed to act like elders". Locke felt that parents needed to foster their children's education to better develop a sound body and character. Locke advocated for people to think for themselves. -
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Jean Jacques Rousseau a philosopher, writer and political theorist, is consideringt the most influential to education. Rousseau taught parents to take interest in their children's education and encouraged expression of emotion rather than restraint. Rousseau published "Emile" where he described his ideas on growth. Growth was divided in 3 groups: 1: 0-12 children live like animals 2. from 12 -16 start to develop. 3. 16 onward, child develops to an adult. -
Bronson Alcott
Bronson Alcott believed in a holistic approach would stimulate the mind, using Socratic dialogue his idea was to bring ideas to the forefront and awaken the soul. Alcott was against corporeal punishment and would offer his own hand to strike because it was his failure as a teacher. Alcott established the first progressive school in America -
Anne Sullivan
Anne Sullivan is best know as Helen Keller's teacher. At five years of age Anne contracted an eye disease called trachoma which damaged her eyesight. She had a difficult time in school due to her strong willed personality. After graduation she went to go like with the Keller family to Helen. Anne was able to teach Helen 600 words, multiplication tables, and Braille. Anne helped Helen continue her studies at Radcliffe College in 1900 and Helen was the first deaf-blind person to graduate college. -
George Coleman Poage
George Coleman Paoge became a start track and field and competed in the 1904 Olympics earning two bronze medals, become the first African-American to win medals at the Olympics. Poage held many achievement such as ability to read several languages, graduated with a degree in history also given a leadership role on his team setting records. Poage later taught Latin and English courses and guided student in theatrical productions. -
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud proposed psychological stages of development in children. The five stages identify the instincts of every child according to the different area of the body. The oral stage, the anal stage , the phallic stage, the latency stage, and the genital stage. Freud's developmental stages paved the way for other theorist on the processes of human behaviors. The development of a child's psyche is depended on what stage of their development wasn't met, which can affect their academic growth. -
Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori was a pediatric doctor who also specialized in psychiatry, while teaching at her medical-school she observed that children displayed intrinsic intelligence despite their socio-economic backgrounds. Montessori was placed in charge of a school of 60 students from the "slums" called the Casa dei Bambini (Children's House) to explore a prepared learning environment. By 1925, more than 1,000 school had opened in American following her methods. -
Helen Keller
Helen Keller born blind and deaf became the first to graduate college. She became a member of the American Federation for the Blind and campaigning to raise awareness, money, and support for the blind. She dedicated her life to help those less fortunate and joined in on organizations such as the Permanent Blind War Relief Fund, called the American Braille Press today. -
Martin Luther King Jr
Martin Luther King Jr made one of the most memorable speeches in history at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The speech is know as "I have a Dream", shedding light on anti-segregation, human rights, and equality for all. King preached that maladjustment was the cause of all evil and was the status quo for racial injustice. -
Lillian Smith
Lillian Smith is a progressive writer of the American South but also worked as an educator for elite daughters of the south. Smith ran Laurel Falls, a premier summer educational institutions for young girls. Smith talk young girls about anti-segregation, human rights, and embraced a vision for women to emphasize self-determination and autonomy. -
Diane Ravitch
Diane Ravitch has held key positions helping a decade's worth of educational policies and assessments. She has advocated for for choice and accountability under George H.W. Bush and helped develope the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. She is one of the loudest voices right now on reforming educational matters and is the biggest player for change in our educational system. -
Bill Gates
Bill Gates is not an educator but has assisted many students through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates has contributed over 1.2 million dollars to better reform schools, bring advances of technology to school that need it, and advocate change into the school systems of America. -
Linda Darling-Hammond
Linda Darling-Hammond is a professor at Stanford, offers teachers training on how to work with children of diverse backgrounds and navigating subject matters having to do with diversity. She serves as the executive director of the National Commission of Teaching and America's Future. She has worked to develop educational networks, professional schools that cater to teachers, and help teachers change their own classrooms in the communities. -
References
Famous People in Education, retrieved from www.biography.com/people
The History of Education retrieved from history-world/history_of_education.htm
12 People Changing Education as we Know It (2012), Teach Thought We Grow Teachers, retrieved from www.teachthought.com
