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Noah Webster
Webster believed that Americans needed to learn from American textbooks and wrote his own textbook called the "Blue-Backed Speller". It taught children how to read and spell using the national language that both spelled and pronounced words differently from the British.
Website: https://www.noahwebsterhouse.org/discover/noah-webster-history.htm -
Horace Mann
Mann wrote many reports to the legislature explaining the current educational practices, conditions of schools, and included improvement recommendations. His reports influenced many others and he established normal schools in Massachusetts that train teachers on how to teach.
Website: https://www.biography.com/people/horace-mann-9397522 -
Population Growth and Immigration 19th Century
The United States population doubled in size, from 13 million to 32 million, between the 1830s and 1860s. Approximately 4 million of the population size increase was due to immigration. -
John Dewey
Dewey was known as the father of progressive education. He believed in the child-centered curriculum and learning through experience not through memorization.
Website: https://www.biography.com/people/john-dewey-9273497 -
Measurement Movement
The intelligence quotient (IQ) was developed which indicates which level of mental development each person is at. The IQ exams became a part of the United States education and was able to diagnose learning difficulties that students had. -
Impact of WW2
Many teachers left for the battlefield and school enrollment dropped because youth didn't return to school. School funding was lowered and given to help fund the war effort. -
Brown vs. Board of Education (Top 5)
Supreme Court ruled that separate education for Whites and African Americans was unequal. Many in the U.S. fought against this ruling with violence. It marked the beginning of the Civil Rights revolution and the decline of segregation. Today we see that many blacks and whites attend school and work together. Although, some segregation still remains today in schools partially due to poverty.
Website: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_brown.html -
Civil Rights Movement (Top 5)
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed which prohibited discrimination against anyone based on race, color, or national origin. If states and school districts didn't desegregate they would lose their funding. Due to this act, people today cannot be turned away from schools or job opportunities because of the color of their skin.
Website: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/civil-rights-movement/essays/civil-rights-movement-major-events-and-legacies -
Sputnik and NDEA
Sputnik was a Soviet Union satellite and the first to be launched. The U.S. became concerned with our nations intelligence and the NDEA (National Defense Education Act) was passed. They provided more funding for math, science, and modern foreign languages. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
This act provided funding of more than a billion dollars for education. It was not only used to help educate low-income families but to provide textbooks, teaching material, training for teachers, and library resources.
Website: http://www.hunt-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Development-of-the-Elementary-and-Secondary-Education-Act-August-2016.pdf -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) (Top 5)
All children that had disabilities were given the right to a free and proper education. It helped those with disabilities to not only have access to attend school but to get employment. Today there is more social acceptance for those with disabilities and they have access to an education that is tailored to help them succeed.
Website: https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/your-childs-rights/basics-about-childs-rights/individuals-with-disabilities-education-act-idea-what-you-need-to-know -
A Nation at Risk Report
Was seen by many as a "call to action" to reform the U.S. education. It raised the graduation requirements, testing for teachers and students increased, curriculum became more rigor, and teacher certification requirements were raised.
Website: http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/a-nation-at-risk/index.html -
Standards Movement
Formalized the national goals, the development of standards, and created new assessment systems for United States schools.
Website: https://web.sonoma.edu/users/p/phelan/423/standards.html -
School Choice Movement (Top 5)
Families were now able to choose which school their children attended. Where ever that child went the public education funds would follow them. Today it has created competition between schools and encourages them to improve their performance so families will attend their schools. If they lose students then they also lose funding.
Website: https://www.edchoice.org/school-choice/what-is-school-choice/ -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) (Top 5)
Required that schools must have standards showing what each student should be learning and know. Now we can measure the progress each student is making through the exams that are given throughout the school year and see if they are meeting the standards. There is also more responsibility on schools to help students succeed
Website: http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/no-child-left-behind-overview-definition-summary.html
