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Education in the Colonial Period- Puritans, Dame & Common Schools
www.chesapeake.eduPuritans contributed the most to education during this period. The purpose for education was for religious studies, salvation, self-reliance, & citizenship. Dame schools for girls and common schools for boys emerged in 1635. Dame schools were in someones home. Reading, writing, & math was taught. These schools were for the upper class. Poor kids usually were apprentices for 3-10 years. -
Education in the Colonial Period- Mass Laws of 1642 & 1647
static.sewanee.eduTo ensure the educational needs of children were being met, the first educational laws were passed in 1642 & 1647. The state assumed responsibility for education & assigned men in each town to ensure parents & masters were providing an education for their children. It was not specified how or what should be taught. For every 50 homes, each township was required to provide a teacher to for reading & writing. A grammar school was required for townships with over 100 families. -
Jefferson, Rush, & Webster
Thomas Jefferson believed public education to be essential to democracy. In 1778, he propsed a bill for for free, universal education but it didn't pass primarily because the wealthy didn't want to pay for the education of the poor. Rush was an educational advocate for women and blacks. He beleived in a free education for all. In 1783, Webster published the blue-black speller which became "America's Textbook". -
Secondary School Movement
Massachussettes was the first state to begin the secondary school movement with the opening of the first secondary school in 1821. Because the English School for Boys was successful, a high school for girls opened in 1828, but closed after three years. In 1831, the first comprehensive and co-ed high school opened. There were 300 high schools opened by 1860 and by 1900 there were 6000. -
Horace Mann- A Crusader for Public Education
In 1830, Horace Mann was the majority leader for the Mass. State senate and came to be the first Secretary of Education. Riding horseback, he visited 1000 schools in 6 years to determine the conditions of schools. In his findings he stated that the state took better care of it's livestock than it's children.He advocated for books, chairs with backs, and blackboards for the schools. -
Population Growth & Immigration
Over a million sq. miles of territory was added to the US between 1830-1860 during which time the population grew exponentially.In 1860, there were 32 million people and 4 million of them were immigrants who mostly settled in urban areas. People farming less and moving to cities to work in industry. Due to population growth, there was overcrowding in schools, which caused some kids to attend school part time due to lack of space -
Sara Roberts Case
First legal case requesting integration in schools. Justice Shaw in Massachusettes supreme court ruled against integration. The case was taken to the state legislature in 1855, where segregation was banned in public schools. This was the first law in the US prohibiting segregation. -
Committee of Ten
The Committee of Ten was established to standardize curriculum. There were four curricula that were recommended: classical, Latin-scientific, modern language, and English. Most classes were college-prep and met 4-5 times a week for a year. There was less focus on vocational training, which was thought best to get after high school. -
John Dewey- Progressivism
John Dewey is also known as the father of progressivism in education. His focus was on teaching the "whole child". Progressivism was about staying away from rote-memorization. It was believed that the purpose of education was to increase individual growth, and prepare the child for participation in a democratic society. Dewey beleived there should also be a focus on the social, physical, and emotional needs of the child. -
Great Depression
Many schools closed or had shortened school years during the depression. Students were asked to bring their own supplies tor pay their own tuition o school since there was a minimal budget for education at that time. Some teachers were issued promissory notes rather than paychecks because the school district couldn't afford to pay them. The number of teachers decreased and class sizes increased. The New Deal provided some relief to schools from the federal government. -
WWII
Schools became involved in the war efforts. Teachers left classrooms to be part of the war effort and enrollment in high schools had decreased. Funds for education were redirected to pay for the war. The Lanham Act of 1941 helped school fast growing disctricts with familiies employed by the war effort or on military bases. -
War on Poverty
In the early 1960's, about 1/4 of the population was considered poor & education was thought to be key in remediating this problem. In 1963, the Voc. Ed. Act quadrupled funds for Voc. Ed. Lyndon B. Johnson declared a war on poverty in 1964 and the EOA started Job Corps, Head Start, and VISTA. The ESEA was passed in 1965 providing $1 billion federal dollars to education. Also in 1965, Congress passed the Higher Ed. Act. -
Civil Rights Movement- School Integration
www.brittanica.comIn 1964 the Civil Rights Act passed & authorized the US attorney general to take legal active to enforce desegregation. Althought segregation was now illegal, many students & teachers were not accepting of black kids integrating into the schools. About 30,000 black school teachers lost their jobs & were not hired in integrated schools. There were still separate dances for white & black kids. It took many brave black school kids to be the first ones to integrate knowing they were not accepted. -
IDEA
Crongress enacted the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. This act established the ideaedu.org of diabled kids to have a free & appropriate education. It protected rights & met the needs of children with disabilities. In 1990, it was reauthorized as IDEA to reinforce the law & strengthened inclusion. Transition services were added to provide assistance when a child went on to high school from middle school, went to college or to live on their own. This act also defined the rights of all kids. -
No Child Left Behind
www2.ed.gov
NCLB was endacted in 2001. Required by end of 05-06 school year all states have standards for what every child will learn in math and reading. 95% of all students grades 3-8 should be tested each year & once in 10-12 grade. There are more sanctions than resources for schools that are not meeting standards. Goal of law is to improve education for low income students by providing fed funds. Requires teachers to be highly qual.
