Foundations of Education

  • Impact of Noah Webster

    Webster made changes to the English language to make it American instead of British English. He made a widely used spelling book in schools known as the "blue back speller."
  • The Northwest Ordinance

    Land was split up into sections. At least one section from each district was dedicated to public education.
  • First Education Laws: Massachusettes

    Thomas Jefferson decided that educational laws need to be made since America is a democracy. People need to be educated enough to vote for their leaders.
  • Secondary School Movement

    Public high school opened for boys. It was a school that offered "practical education" that was only offered in private schools before.
  • Catherine Beecher Made Teaching Respectable for Women

    Catherine Beecher Made Teaching Respectable for Women
    MOST IMPORTANT Beecher made a push for women to have careers as school teachers. She wanted to create a career specifically for women to have. She established the Hartford Female Seminary. This continues to have an effect on education because it empowered women to have careers in general.
    Beecher Webpage
  • Secondary School for Girls

    High school opened and was available for girls. It was kept separate from the boys. It was only open for three years.
  • Common Schools

    Common schools were created, so that everyone could have an equal chance at education. Everyone was guaranteed 3 years of education.
  • The Impact of Horace Mann

    Horace man was the first Secretary of Education. He visited thousands of schools on horseback. He pushed for the schools to have black boards, chairs with backs, and standardized textbooks.
  • Population Growth and Immigration

    In the 19th Century the population grew from 13 million to 32 million. 4 million of those came through immigration. America became increasingly urban. New technology meant less farm jobs and more time for students to spend in school.
  • The Growth of Education After the Civil War

    When the civil war ended, the slaves were free. There was a sudden flood of people who were free to become literate.
  • The Committee of Ten

    The Committee of Ten was created to standardize curriculum. They wanted to add college preparatory classes as a requirement.
  • The Gary Plan

    The Gary Plan
    MOST IMPORTANT In Gary, Indiana, they had the most progressive school system. They cared about the whole child. They offered so many opportunities. Their mantra was, "Make every working man a scholar and every scholar a working man." The Gary Plan is most closely linked to the way that we believe that students should be taught today.
    Gary Indiana Link
  • Brown vs. Board of Education

    Brown vs. Board of Education
    MOST IMPORTANT Segregation was legal as long as it was equal. The schools were not equal. The materials that were being used in the black schools were outdated. They decided that segregation has no place in public schools, but it wasn't really enforced until later on. We now have schools that don't even have to think about integration let alone segregation.
    Brown vs. Board of Education Link
  • Lyndon B Johnson

    Lyndon B Johnson
    MOST IMPORTANT Johnson became president. He was a former school teacher. He made serious contributions to public education. High schools today can be credited to the contributions that Johnson made to education.
    Johnson Link
  • Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act

    Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act
    MOST IMPORTANT Before this, students with disabilities didn't have access to appropriate education. Thanks to this act, they were granted free, public, appropriate education. Equality in education included people with disabilities.This act is still in effect today to allow children with disabilities to receive the rights to public education.
    IDEA Webpage