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Colonial Period
In the Colonial Period public schools were mainly for the upper class children. They learned basic math, reading, writing, and poetry skills. They didn't have access to very much paper, so the kids would have to recite their work until they had it memorized. School was geared more toward boys than girls. -
Common Schools
In common schools students were taught the three R's (reading, (w)riting, and (a)rithmatic) as well as history and geography. These kids were mainly taught from the King James Bible, but there were many people who apposed this. Many schools taught prodistant values. -
Horace Mann
Horace Mann was born in 1796. As he grew, he was thought to be a very smart student. He ended up going to Brown University at age 20. He learned much about politics and ended up creating the Common Schools. -
Population Growth and Immigration in the 19th century
Because of the rapid growth in the early 1800's from immigration there was a bigger need for teachers and schools. -
The Impact of John Dewey
John Dewey was born in Vermont. He was a very smart kid and attended The University of Vermont at the age of 15. He had a great impact on education by introducing the radical idea that education needs to be child centered. This was a difference in what they had been doing in this time era. -
Secondary School Movement
In the United States, high schools started popping up everywhere. Many students started attending and graduating from high school. Secondary education was mainly to teach life skills that kids could use in the real world. High schools bacame popular in the New England area and gradually moved to the western states. -
The Measurement Movement (IQ, Thorndike, Terman)
Tets, TESTS, Tests, and more tests. This was a period where people thought it might be a good idea to see if students were learning what was taught and many tests came about. -
Brown vs. Board of Education, 1954
I don't think that there is much to say about this one other than having seperate schools for whites and blacks was unconstitutional. Segregation was now illegal. -
Sputnik and NDEA
Because the Soviet Union launched Sputnik and were the first ones in space, the United States decided that they needed to teach more math and science in schools. The space race was very important and the USA didn't like to be behind. They thought that if they focused more on math and science that they would produce better chances of winning the space race. -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, 1975
This act allowed students with disabilites to get free education that best suited them. This act covers kids from birth to the early 20's. It is important because different kids with different disabilities need different plans to learn. -
The Standards Movement
The Standards Movement was established based on students ability to know the same standards as someone else of their age. The students will all be tested the same and this knowledge will be used to guide future systems. -
Committee of Ten
The commitee of ten was a group of highly educated people who wanted to try and get schools teaching the same or similar things. This group was comprised of representatives of higher education. In addition to gettiing the curriculum the same, they focused on the preparation and credentials of teachers. -
School Choice Movement: Charter Schools, Vouchers
This movement was given so people could have other alternatives than just the free public schools. People felt that just because they lived in a boundry didn't mean that they had to send their child to a particular school. Charter schools allowed families to be able to have more than one option. -
Growth of Standardized Testing
The growth of standardized testing is a very controvercial subject, but the fact is, it puts all teachers and schools on the same playing field. It requires teachers and schools to teach the same thing in one county or state as the next. This way if kids move around they will generally be on the same level as the next kid. -
No Child Left Behind, 2001
I think the name says it all on this one. The act was passed so that all kids would progress and not be left behind. If schools wanted more state funding then they must participate in the No Child Left Behind.
