Caprice Paduano

Chapter 5

Historical Foundations of U.S. Education

1. Why is educational history important?2. What were teaching and schools like in the

American colonies (1620–1750)?3. What were the goals of education during the

Revolutionary Period (1750-1820)4. How was the struggle won for state-

supported common school (1820-1865)?5. How did compulsory education change

schools and the teaching profession (1865-1920)?

6. What were the aims of education during the Progressive Era (1920-1945)?

7. How did education change during the modern postwar era (1945-2000)?

8. What are the educational priorities of the new century (2000 to the present)?

• Knowledge of events that influenced schools will help in evaluation of current proposals for change.

• Awareness of events that have influenced teaching is a hallmark of professionalism

Curriculum Essentialist reading, writing and math based on religion

Teacher Status Low, minimal qualifications, high morals

Schools Puritan – Often harsh schools that taught reading and writing to learn scripturesParochial – Schools based on religious beliefsDame – Schools for initial instruction of reading, writing and arithmetic boys and only school for girlsReading and Writing – Schools for boys beyond what parents could teachLatin Grammar Schools – Schools for boys to prep for Harvard

Origins of Mandated Education (Acts)Massachusetts Act of 1642

First educational law in country – declared children needed to read and write. If not able parents could receive fineMassachusetts Act of 1647

Old Deluder Satan Act – Mandated the establishment and support of schools – towns with 50 or more families had to fund schools.

Education of StudentsAfrican Americans

received training from masters or church groups, also Philadelphia African School

Native Americans Received education from Quaker Indian Schools

Mexican Americans Received training from missionaries

Ben FranklinStarted Philadelphia Academy - secular academic supported privately

Wrote “Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania”

Sarah Pierce Started Sarah Pierce’s Female Academy – emphasized essentialist curriculum

Female Seminaries Troy Seminary – One of the first women’s colleges

Thomas JeffersonViewed education of the common people most effective means of preserving libertyFor a society to remain free, it must support a continuous system of public education Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge – called for state controlled schools that would teach at no cost to parents 3 yrs of reading, writing and arithmetic

Webster’s Speller Written by Noah Webster“The Old Blue-Back”Purpose was to “instill first rudiments of language, some just ideas of religion, morals and domestic economy”

Common Schools state supported high schools

•In favor – city residents, nontaxpayers, democratic leaders, philanthropist, humanitarians•Opposed – rural residents, taxpayers, aristocratic and conservative groups, private school owners, conservative religious groups, Southerners and Non-English speaking groups

Horace Mann Champion of Common School Movement free public local schools

Improved Massachusetts schools Convince Conservative moneyed classes free schools were cheapest means of self – protection

and insurance Started Normal Schools general knowledge course and courses in pedagogy

for teacher preparation

McGuffey Reader Written by Reverend William Holmes McGuffey Readers (books) emphasized virtues of hard

work, honesty, truth, charity and obedience

Morrill Land Grant Act Provided federal land for states to either sell or rent for funds for the establishment of colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts

Compulsory Education Laws•Required common school attendance•More students attended school•Increased attendance created need for management •Scientific Management• Top down management taken from big business

Higher Education for African AmericansBooker T. Washington

Founded Tuskegee Institute – Industrial school for African Americans in rural Alabama

Believed that as the race grows in knowledge, experience, culture, taste and wealth that the wants of the people will become more diverse and to satisfy this the number of professional business men and women will increase

W.E.B. Dubois First Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)Founded National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)Called to educate the most talented tenth of the African American population to equip them for leadership

Kindergarten Garden where children growFounded by Friedrich FroebelStress motor development and self activity before children began formal schooling

Professionalization of TeachingProfessional Teacher Organizations StartedNational Education Association (NEA)American Federation of Teachers (AFT)Worked to increase teacher salaries and professionalize teaching.

Reorganization of Secondary Education Called for high school curriculum to

accommodate individual instruction Determined 7 goals to provide focus for

schooling at all levels: health, command of individual processes, worthy home membership, vocation, citizenship, worthy use of leisure time, and ethical character

Women’s Influence on Teaching Greater demand for teachers

Linked schools with social service agencies and institutions

ProgressivismBelief that life is evolving in positive direction, people should be trusted to act in own best interestEducation should focus on children’s interests and practical needsTeachers served as guides

John Dewey’s Laboratory SchoolGave students meaningful relevant educationTest principlesCurriculum should be a natural outgrowth of child interests

Maria Montessori’s Method Believed children’s mental, physical and

spiritual development should be enhanced by providing them with developmentally appropriate activities

Teachers created learning environments based on student’s level of development and readiness to learn new material

• Decline in progressivism due to public criticism

• Lasting effects of progressivism• Inquiry or discovery learning• Self paced instructional approaches• Field trips• Flexible scheduling • Open Concept classrooms• Non-graded schools• Small group activities• School-based counseling

Education of Immigrants and Minorities•Goal – rapid assimilation into English-speaking Anglo-European society• Children often punished for speaking native

language• Ethnic groups established separate schools to

preserve culture

Education of Immigrants and Minorities•Native Americans – Federal Government placed tribes on reservations and tribal children in boarding schools to assimilate them into the dominate culture•The Problem of Indian Administration • Recommended Native American Education be

restructured• Built day schools• Revised curricula to reflect tribal cultures and

needs

Mary McLeod Bethune•Started what became Bethune-Cookman College•Directed Office of Minority Affairs in the National Youth Administration (NYA)

World War II and Federal Government Influences

Lanham Act Provided funding for: Worker training Construction of school in military areas Childcare for working parents

G.I. Bill of Rights provided funding for tuition and board at colleges and universities for veterans

Trends How can full and equal educational

opportunity be extended to all groups? What knowledge and skills should be taught? How should knowledge and skills be taught?

1950sNational Defense Education Act of 1958

• Started in response to Russian Satellite – Sputnik first into space

• Education is the first line of defense• New math, science, social studies and foreign

language programsDesegregation•Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka•Separation is unequal •Schools order to desegregate

1960s•Elementary and Secondary Education Act• Allocated funds on the basis of the number poor

children

•Title VII – The Bilingual Education Act• Provided federal aid to low-income children of

limited English-speaking ability

1970s Accountability of teachers demanded Back-to-basics Movement Title IX

No person in the United State shall on the basis of sex be excluded from education or activity receiving federal assistance

Education for All Handicapped Children (PL94-142) Referred to as Mainstreaming Law Children with special needs will receive a free and

appropriate education in the least restrictive environment

1980sNation at RiskGave evidence that schools were failingPaideia ProposalResponse to Nation at RiskProposal for perrenialist core curriculumHigh School: A Report on Secondary Education in AmericaSuggested strengthening academic core curriculum

1990s ChallengesGreater diversityGreater international competitionLess support for public educationDecentralization and deregulation of schoolsResponseTeacher leadership and collaboration

Equity for all students The achievement gap

Excellence2010 ESEA reauthorizationRace to the Top grants

AccountabilityHolding schools, teachers, and administrators accountable for student learning.