Education_Era

Eras and Periods in U.S. Education The Colonial Period Major event: 1762 - Rousseau publishes “L’Emile ou de l’education” introducing humanistic philosophy into education. Johann Pestalozzi puts the theory into practice. The Early National Period Major event:1779 – Jefferson proposes the establishment of common schools through a bill that would provide all children with 3 years of free education. The Common School Movement Major event: 1821 – Boston establishes the first public high school to remedy the inadequacies of an elementary school only education for children that could not afford the private academies. The Progressive Era Major event: 1895 – First achievement test devised. Joseph Rice devised a test designed to be standardized for eight grade students. The Modern Era Major event: 1965 – Elementary and Secondary Education Act – Authorizes school grants for children from low-income families, funding resources, materials and training. The events I have selected collectively reflect a movement aimed at bringing education, especially higher level education, to all people regardless of their financial abilities. Of all the events I have chosen, I believe the most significant to be the 1821 establishment of the first public high school. The significance of this event is in the purpose behind it. The high school was established not only to bring higher level education to those that could not afford the private academies, but also to provide a higher quality education. In fact it was the inadequate quality of the public education that triggered the establishment of this school. When Jefferson signed into law the bill that established 3 years of public funding for all children, the focus was on the funding and ensuring that education was available to all children. This was a wonderful step forward because it made education available to those that previously could not afford it. However the bill lacked the establishment of requirements for the education being funded. Standardized testing such as the spelling test devised by Joseph Rice is focused on ensuring that students are learning what the education system and it’s curriculum has set out to teach. This too was needed however the test must be aligned with a quality curriculum. Therefore, I see the first public high school as a major step forward in education because not only was higher education then available to all, additionally the school exemplified the importance of the quality of public education as well. It effectively created a model not only for modern high schools but I would venture to say a model also for public universities.