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Native American Education
Settlers in Virginia established a school for Native Americans. This school was called Henrico and its teachings were based on evangelical principles. Although it was a good thought, this uprooted the young Native Americans from their culture as they were taught these new ideas and insights (Kaplan & Owings, 117). This is a part of the awareness in the importance of cultures and backgrounds that need to be respected in all classrooms. -
"Ye Olde Deluder Satan Law"
This law stated that towns over 50 people would have to hire a school teacher to instruct their children. This is an important event in educational history because it was when teachers first started being appointed and paid. Also the responsibility for the children's education was now under the teacher instead of the parents who could now work longer. This is still carried out today and will most likely continue in the centuries to come. -
Separation of Church, State, and Education
Near the end of the Revolutionary War, public schools were no longer allowed to teach religion based instruction. Since the U.S. Constitution states free exercise of religion, public schools embraced a more civic instruction rather than the religious ones they had been teaching. This has still be a controversial issue among school boards and the government and may never be ironed out smoothly. -
Academies and "Secondary" Education
Academies were starting to train future teachers around this time. The public high school system would soon by called "secondary" education because it was not always required to further your education after the eighth grade ("primary" education). Those academies eventually turned into high schools and some are existing today in forms of private schools. Now, students are required to at least get a General Education Diploma which would include passing through both primary and secondary education. -
Discipline in the Classroom
There were two different types of discipline in the classroom around this time. One of them, bureaucratic discipline, someone else enforced the rules instead of the teacher. The second form, affectionate discipline, was enforced by the teacher but only after a trusting and caring relationship was established (Kaplan & Owings, 124). Schools today usually have the teacher enforce the punishment (not with physical actions) and will take the issue to a higher authority if necessary.
