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Education in the Colonial Period*
The early educators of the colonial period started to believe in the importance of education if not only for their students to learn how to read the bible. Hornbooks with the alphabet and Lord's prayer were a helpful tool in educating young children. One of the most important events simply because education for farmers and working people was seen as an important asset! -
Infant Schools
While older children were starting to go to Common Schools, it becamse apparant that young children could be educated as well! Even though these young hcildren were only learning the aplhabet, they were learning social skills as well. -
Jefferson and Webster*
Both Thomas Jefferson and Noah Webster believed strongly in education for the citizens of their new country! Webster created his own "blue book" with the proper spelling of words. Webster also revised some spelling of English words that we still use today, just because we were now separated from the British. Thomas Jefferson was able to convince Congress after many years that school should not just be for the wealthy! One of the most important things he did for the young people of this country. -
Horace Mann
An educational reformer who personally went to every schoolhouse in New England to see if things were acceptable. He established these public schools on the east coast, and normalized public education. -
Population Growth and Immigration in the 19th century
Many immigrants came from Ireland and Eastern Europe during this time. All these parents wanted a great education for their children, so schools were overflowing! Protestant teachers antagonized young Irish Catholics, and as a response to this, Catholic schools were created and still operate today. -
The Progressive Reform Movement
One of the most important movements because it started again to focus on the whole child! Children were considered with the end in mind, especially when it came to these students being able to be democratically involved in the world they lived! Started to change ideas that education should be developmentally appropriate. -
The impact of John Dewey*
John Dewey was one of the most important peoply to change education in the United States. He believed that educdation should encompass the whole child, and should be engaging to them! Helped circulate the idea that children learn on an indiviudual basis, and teachers needed to cater to that more. -
The Impact of WW2
After all the soldiers came home from war, many children were born! We call this generation the "baby boomer" generation. Teachers began to see that it was their responsibiltiy to take care of these kids physically in case a nucleur attack was on the way. A lot of these children graduated and went on to college, which changed expecations eventually. -
Brown vs. Board of Education*
One of the most important cases in the United States. This case ended segregation in public schools! Before this, African Americans and other races were not getting the best educations available. After this, all students were allowed to go to schools closer to their homes and receive a high quality education. -
Elementary & Secondary Education Act
LBJ understood that to really make schools integrate, money would need to be involved. Because he was a steacher from the south, he knew firsthand that if schoosl were given federal funds for integrating, the schools would actually do it! After this act, all schools in the United States were integrated. -
IDEA and Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act*
IDEA was able to help promote the education of those with physical disabilites. Beofer this, those who were handicapped or any other way impaired were kept in state instituions for most of their lives. After the act was passes, students were finally able to go to mainstream schools, and get an education and IEP of their own! Many students with disabilities have been able to graduate and go on to college. -
The Committee of Ten
This important group of men was a group of educators who were able to regulate a standardization of American high schools. After this, U.S. students would all be taught the same curriculum. -
A Nation at Risk report*
This report stated that schools had never been doing worse, although that wasn't truly the case. It inspired almost a type of panic in reformers, so much so that school days and years became longer, graduation requirements became much more elaborate, and there was much more homework assigned. To see if these measures were effective, standardized testing appeared. President Reagan hoped to make education as "excellent" if not better than other countries. Forever changed schools in America. -
Growth of Standardized Testing
As the United States moved closer to the No Child Left Behind Act, it became clear that standarized testing would be around for awhile. Although it is unpopular with many teachers, it remains a valuable way to monitor student performance across the country. -
No Child Left Behind
Signed by President Bush, this new act made teachers accountable for their own teaching. It also made schools accountable if their students did not improve or maintain adequate test scores each year.
