-
Early Common and Primary Schools in New England
By 1750, the majority of New England towns had common schools available to all children, and primary schools available after 1820. This was the beginning building block for education then and today, simply because it was the first to have common (elementary) schools available for all children. Although the children were usually done with formal education by age 7, this was still a huge step forward in the history of education. -
The First Public High School
The first public high school was erected in Boston, MA in 1821. Middle-class and business people were enthralled with the idea for a taxpayer-supported public high school, instead of being an expensive, private school. This is so important in the history of current-day public schools, because this first public high school gave the penniless a chance for the same education as the rich, ultimately adding another rung to the ladder of success. -
The First State Board of Education
Horace Mann, the first appointed secretary of education, is known as "The Father of American Education" because he led Massachusetts, and ultimately the rest of the nation, to universal and free public education. In 1837, Mann opened the common school to ALL students, regardless of race, gender, class, etc. This is one of the most important ideals that stands in public education today as well- the idea that no child be turned away, regardless of race, gender, class, or anything else. -
Compulsory Attendance Laws Enforced
Although the dates for these laws are drawn out from 1910 to 1940, the majority of the enforcements for attendance began shortly after WWI ended. Regular and enforced attendance is so imperative for students to gain a successful education, whether it be 1920 or 2018. Without the enforcement of these laws that made children go to school and gain an excellent education, public schools would not be where they are today. -
No Child Left Behind Act
Passed by Congress in 2001 and signed by President Bush in 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act was created to hold schools accountable for equal achievement across the board. Although controversial, NCLB represents the government's first serious attempt to set standards for teachers and students. This is important to the history of public schools because without this first passing, more improved bills (ARRA, RTTT, ESSA) would have never been created based off the learning curve from NCLB.
