History of Education in America

1. History of Education in America American History

2. Overview • Public Education- Relativelynewconcept • Throughout history most students never received formal education • Often reserved for the wealthyorreligious • Americans will change the world view of who is educated and how

3. Four Eras of American Ed • Permissive Era 1642-1825 • Encouraging Era 1826-1854 • Compulsory Era 1855-1958 • Contemporary Era 1958-Present

4. Permissive Era 1642-1825 • Government permits the organization of public schools subject to the approval of local voters. • Complete ParentalAuthority • Focused on Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, and Religious studies • Local communities may or may not establish schools

6. Encouraging Era 1826-1855 • Government encourages the establishment of school districts and raising of taxrevenues to support them. • Establishment of schools notrequired • Parental Authority, Children did not have to attend. • Mistrustofparents spreads in education leadership. “In too many instances the parents are unfit guardians of their own children … the children must be gathered up and forced into school”

7. McGuffey Readers

8. The Common School • Occurred during first half of 1800’s. • Elementary school only • Reading, writing, and arithmetic • “Common” because it was open to children of allsocialclasses • Schooling was a stateresponsibility, therefore each had its own set of rules.

11. Compulsory Era 1855-1958 • Governmentcompels the establishment of school districts, taxation for government schools, curriculum and structure, and children’s school attendance. • Decline in parental Authority • 1852 Compulsory laws are enacted in all states

13. Horace Mann • Mass. Secretary of Education, proponentofcommonschools • Mobilized national support for publicschools • Conviced taxpayers it was in their best interest to establish public schools • Stewardshiptheory- prosperous people had the responsibility to educate the public • Investment- creates industrious men and women who would obey the laws. • Americanize- people from different backgrounds and give them a common identity.

15. Education for Democracy • Democracy requires educated, literate citizens. • Illiteracy would lead to mobuprisings • Common elementary schools would provide a nationalidentityandpurpose

17. Normal Schools • Two year programs designed to prepare new teachers for common schools • Courses in history and philosophy of education, teaching methods, and demonstration • By 1900 many had become four year teacher-educationcolleges • Before civil war majority of rural teachers are male, by 1900 71% were women

19. The One Room School • Localschoolboard, elected by people, setthetaxrate, hire and supervise the teacher. • 1 teacher, students from age 5-17 in one room. • Studied reading, writing, grammar, spelling, arithmetic, history, geography, and hygiene. • Students memorized and recited information • Punctuality, honesty, and hard work were stressed values. • Teachers were the janitor, record keeper, and administrator

21. Public High School Movement • By 1890 2,526 public high schools were enrolling 200,000 students. • Industrialization and urbanization creates a demand for specializedoccupations • High schools became the link between elementary school and collegeortheskilledworkforce.

23. High School Curriculum • Traditionalists saw high schools as college-preparatory. • Industrialists saw high schools as industrialand vocational training grounds. • Four main subjects: classical, Latin-scientific, modern language, and English. • Curriculum also included: foreign languages, mathematics, sciences, English, and history

25. Colleges and Universities • Private- usually sponsored by churches • Public- sponsored by the state • Traditionally LiberalArts- History, philosophy, Latin, oratory, rhetoric, etc. • Teachercolleges- formed from normal schools.

27. Contemporary Era • NationalDefenseEducationAct of 1958- provides federal funds for science, math, foreign language, and counseling • Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965- federal funds to fight the war on poverty. Provides money to help educate low-income students. • NCLB- current re-authorization of ESEA. Accountability for schools and administrators with emphasis on quality education for all students.

28. Universities for National Development • Industry and Agriculture demands students who are trained in the specificsciencesoftheirtrade. • Morrill Act of 1862- sets aside 30,000 acres for each senator and representative, given to the state, proceeds to fund agriculture and mechanical colleges. • Focus on agricultural education, engineering, and other applied sciences