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Jan 1, 1516
Desiderius Erasmus' "The Education of a Christian Prince"
Erasmus and other Renaissance authors developed humanistic ideas about education which heavily influenced early American colonists. Erasmus' work, and the works of those influenced by him, proposed that a good education produces competent rulers through which the peoples' welfare would advance. This early text outlined the importance an education has on society, helping create a foundation on which our modern K-12 was built. -
The Secular Mandate: Separating Church and State
Early American leaders believed an education was essential to maintaining a healthy republic, agreeing that the new nation's citizens deserved a public education that was universal. Before the American Revolution secular schooling became more popular, replacing many of the religious schools. The framers of the U.S. Consitution understood the importance of a separate church and state, this separation transformed a predominantly religious institution to one that was nonsectarian and civic. -
Universal Public Education
The introduction of new public learning institutions brought educational continuity to states in the newly formed United States. Children from the ages of 4 - 17 attended different types of schools depending on age; Infant schools, public high schools, and supplementary schools were some of the earliest forms of these institutions. Near the mid 19th century Massachusetts developed the first State Board of Education, which became the blueprint for universal public education across the country. -
Integration: Brown vs. Board of Education
In a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court, Brown vs. Board of Education stated that "separate but equal" was "inherently unequal," paving the way for desegregation in public schools across the country. Many Southern states resisted integration, by 1970, "Southern schools were less segregated than schools in any other region in the country." In 2009, due to districts being released from desegregation orders, many schools were "more segregated than they were in 1969." -
Special Education: Integration and Education of Individuals with Special Needs.
In the wake of Brown vs. Board of Education parents of those with special needs began pushing for the rights of their children, demanding access to a "free and appropriate education." Passed by Congress in 1975, Public Law 94-142, later known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, helped identify children with disabilities and insured their educational rights. The inclusion of students with disabilities in general classrooms rose 15% between 1995 and 2009.
