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Colonial Period
Religious values were instilled in children. Teachers taught the importance of authority and made children fear the punishment from God that came with disobedience to authority. Schools only used the New England Primer. Only the privileged (white men) went to college. In 1776 the average school attendance per year was only 86 days. The poor rarely went to school. -
The impact of Horace Mann
Horace Mann reviewed over 1000 public school facilities. He wrote detailed observations and plans to improve them. He implimented a lot of things that we know go along with education today like black boards, chairs with backs, etc. He was very influential in the standardization of common schools at this time. He got free tax supported education for all students in the northern states. Attendance went way up because of him. -
Sarah Roberts
She attended Smith school which was a very run down school that was very lacking. Her father tried to enroll her in a better school four different times. She was even ejected from a school because of her skin color. Her father sued Boston and took their cause to the state legislature. Shortly after, a law passed to abolish segregation. -
Catharine Beecher
Catharine Beecher was a huge advocate for women in the field of teaching. She believe that women were God's chosen ones to teach. She made teaching a respectable career for middle class women. She found that because of the poor conditions of this time "people did not have an opportunity to improve their minds." She created a new standard for teaching in that children were now cared for by their female teachers. -
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Effects of Population Growth
Because of the vast population grown and emmigration at this time, the number of students tripled in the school system. Because of this, there was a wide variety of the kids of students in school. Catholics and Irish children were majorly persecuted at this time. Textbooks in public schools were even shedding bad light on them. Because of this there was a reform of textbooks to aid against the persecution of these students. -
Growth of education after the Civil War
People described this time in history as "an entire race trying to go to school." All of a sudden, all blacks could be educated and could become literate. Because they were always told they could, everyone wanted to learn right away. Black literacy soared after the Civil War and public education was well underway. -
Progressive Movement
80 percent of students said they would rather work in a factory than go to school. Students also didn't have good medical care at this time. Laws were, therefore, passed to ban child labor and make schooling required. The education system seeked to reform standards of teaching. They tried to tap into all talents of students. They Americanized immigrants and taught them to speak English. Because there were more students in schools at this time, there was more faculty required. -
The Gary Plan
People were flocking to Gary, Indiana because of its lofty steel mill. Therefore, schools in Gary were great. Students got to take advantage of the most progressive education system of all. William A. Wert, disciple of John Dewey, set progressive curriculum into motion. Students were involved in whole brain learned rather than just sitting in a desk listening to a lecture. All of the facilities of the school were constantly in use. There motto was work, study, and play. -
John Dewey
He attacked the rigid standards of teaching. He is considered the Father of Progressive Education. He wanted students to be engaged in school. He said that schools should be anchored in the whole child. School would be hospitable places that children could exercise their bodies and minds. He encouraged child centered education. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Linda Brown had to walk two miles to her black school everyday. Therefore, her father fought for equality. He tried to have her enrolled in Sumner School looking for desegregation and was shortly after turned away. The Browns, along with 13 other families, filed a suit with the Supreme Court to end segregation. They spoke for many black children across the nation. Chief Justice, Warren, passed the bill to end segregation. -
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The Impact of the Civil Rights Movement
Although integration in schools in now legal, school still lacked equality, especially in the south. In 1957, the governor of Arkansas called in the National Guard rather than letting nine black students enter a school in Little Rock. Eisenhower overruled him and sent public troops to escort the black students. -
LBJ's Legacy
Lyndon B. Johnson fought poverty in public schools. He had an advantage because he grew up in Texas and understood the mentality of Southern States. Although he knew he couldn't force integration, he threatened to withhold funding from school who refused to integrate. This sped up the process of integration. -
IDEA 1975
A law was passed offering free public education and transition services to individuals with disabilities. The government now viewed these individuals as those with huge capabilities. Ammendments in 1997 gave them access to curriculum. Because of this movement, students with disabilities now had the chance for higher achievement. -
A Nation at Risk
Ronald Reagan saw the education system as failing to strive for excellence. He called this a nation at risk. Therefore, he opened the door to free market reforms. He encouraged competition. The government wanted students to be able to compete in a business driven world. Because of this there was much more testing and higher standard for graduation requirement put on students and teachers. -
School Choice Movement
Because of the high competition created by the government form A Nation at Risk, teacher's now were organizing school called charter schools to help students with high achievement. In East Harlem many different school opened up with the same goal to raise academic achievement. Within ten years, there were 52 different charter schools in East Harlem alone. These schools focused on performing arts, sports, etc. Competition was encouraged because of this movement.
