U.
S EDUCATIONAL TIMELINE
1600
Education was intended to
further religious goals and was
offered primarily to white males.
Education was focused on heaven,
reading, writing and moral
development all revolved around
the Bible.
Major Educational resource was
family.
Lessons typically focused on
reading, values, manners,social
graces, and vocational skills.
1700
The development of commerce and
mercentile demands promoted the
formation of private schools devoted
to job training.
New York and Philladelphia had
functioning private teachers and
night schools functioning.
Southern Colonies developed a
educational system that was
resonsive to plantation society.
Plantation owners focused on basic
academic skills, but also social graces
and managing slaves, using texts like
The Complete Gentleman.
1800 1900-1950
Horace Mann helps create Massachusetts
State Board Of Education in 1837.
Common schools estalished in 1830 were
free to all and were intended to bring
democracy to education
Friedrich Froebel founded the first
Kindergarten in 1837, focused on childs
development and socialization.
Mcguffy Readers Published in 1836 written The Progressive Education Association was In 1960 Cesar Chavez led the fight
works that educated different grade
levels.
In 1909 the first junior high school was
established teaching grades 7,8 and 9.
This Junior High school was designed with
more individualized instruction, core
curriculum, and guidance and counseling.
In 1918 NEA committee members were
more diverse including educators and high
school principals which they helped
identify the seven Cardinal Principles.
formed in 1919
1950-1999 2000
No Child Left Behind Act (2001)
In 1954 Brown v. Board of this revises the Elementary and
Education of Topeka which stated Secondary Act and calls for
that segregation was not accepted stricter standards. Also states
in educational facilities. ramifications if standards are not
met.
In 1957 due to Sputnik (the space
race) , paved way for more
rigorous, math and science focused
curriculum.
In 1958 the National Defense
Education Act supported the
funding of teacher training
programs and provided loans and
college scholarships towards
degrees that benefited "the
security of the nation".
of migrant Mexican Americans to
demand a better education.
Kenneth Clark was the first African
American to be tenured at City
College of New York.
 Dame Schools, which were the
homes of well respected women
of the community that would
devote their home and time to
teaching.
Education begins being reconstructed
by American leaders like Thomas
Jefferson.He believed in education
beyond wealth and surrounding
education only around religion.
Smith- Hughs Act of 1917 provided funds
Normal Schools become founded in
for teacher training and program In 1964 President Johnson, pushed
Massachusetts. School in preparing
development in vocational education and to eradicate racial segregation
teachers in pedagogy.
high school level.

Elementary and Secondary

African Americans were not allowed
Apprenticeship Programs which
schooling. Public citizens began to
were directed towards boys that
question the usefullness of how the
taught trade skill.
education system was set up.
The Great Depression of 1930's helped
the government become more involved with
Sequoyah invent a Cherokee Syllabary in
education. Educational programs and free
1822. This permited Cherokee books.
lunches were some ways the government
became involved.
Education Act of 1965. This law
provided financial assistance to
schools that had low income
families in their districts. This was
done to improve educational
resources.

In 1749 Benjamin Franklin proposed a
Apprenticeship Programs which
new kind of secondary school, one
were directed towards boys that
which would replace grammer schools
taught trade skill.
called an Academy.
In 1823 Missippi Law prohibited from
African Americans to gather for
educational purposes. In 1830 Louisiana law
was established which stated that anyone
caught teaching a slave how to read and
write would be sent to prison.
In 1968 Bilingual Education Act this
act was the result of the needs of
1950 First Middle School In Bay City, non-English speaking students
Michigan which created funding for
instructional resources/ classes
that would help.

The Franklin Academy was

Girls were believed to only need
reading as a skill to be able to
read the Bible. Young girls were
to focus on homemaking skills.
established in 1751. This school did
not follow religion and offered
subjects which were useful and was
directed towards both boys and girls
who could afford the tuiton.
In 1824 the government establishes the In 1972 Title IX the Educational
Bureau Of Indian Affairs which marked Amendment that allowed women to
the beginning of Indians being placed on gain access to educational
reservations. programs, but no equality.

Noah Webster American Spelling

The Boston Latin Grammer School
Book published in 1783. This
established in 1635, was a school Indian boarding schools were established 1975 Education for All Handicap
contained the alphabet, sylables,
directed to boys of ages 7-14 to assimilate Indians. Children Act is passed.
consanants,rules of reading and short
from wealthy families.
stories.

Harvard College was established
in 1636; specifically to prepare
ministers
Old Deluder Satan Law of 1647;
paid education became a must and
every town of one hundred
households must provide a
grammer school to prepare youth
for a university.
Education was also available to
the poor, but had to admit their
poverty publicly.
1690-The first real textbook was
published,New England Primer
which was used in schools to
teach religious orientation until
1800.
Colonial experiences helped
establish local control of schools,
compulsary education, tax
supported schools and state
standards for teaching and
schools
In 1983 report for the National
The Land Ordinance Act of 1785 and Commision on Excellence in
In 1821, the English Classical School was
the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Education cited weak performance
established it was a free secondary school.
required Ohio, Mississippi rivers, and of U.S students due to this schools
In 1852 it became a regular public
Great Lakes to reserve land for increased the number of
highschool for all not just boys.
educational purposes requirements needed and more
testing.
The Land Ordinance Act of 1785 and In 1991 Charter Schools are
the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 established which are tax-
First Private Normal School in Vermont in
required Ohio, Mississippi rivers, and supported and rules and regulations
1823
Great Lakes to reserve land for applied to public schools don’t apply
educational purposes to Charter.
In 1991 Charter Schools are
established which are tax-
In 1827 Massachusetts required public
supported and rules and regulations
high schools.
applied to public schools don’t apply
to Charter.
In 1855 the first Kindergarten (German
Language) in the United states.
Morill Land Grant College Act which was an
Act passed in 1862 which donated public
Lands to several stated which provide
Colleges for the Benefit of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts.
In 1850, Quakers such as Harriet Beecher
and Myrtilla Miner established the Minor
Normal School for Colored Girls.

1865 The end of Civil Rights Movement

giving African Americans their freedom
and rights.

The Kalamazoo, Michigan, Case of 1874

established that taxes could be used to
support secondary schools.

In 1875 Francis Parker introduces the

concepts of progressivism which is
educational philosphy that organizes
schools around the concerns, curiosity, and
real world experiences of students.

In 1892 the National Education Association

established the Committee of Ten which
was composed of college presidents and
professors. Which composed carnegie
units as a way to measure students
progress.

In 1896 Plessy V. Ferguson segregation

becomes sanctioned. School assignments
were based on race and residence.