Jennifer Rasmussen
Colonial Era
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Education for the few; clergy and nobility
Practical training and apprenticeships outside of schooling for others
1936, Harvard College becomes the nation’s first institution of higher education
1647, Massachusetts requires a teacher in each township larger than 50 families
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Education as a vehicle for moral elevation and access to eternal truths
1749, Franklin’s plan emphasizes training in practical subjects
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Students’ prospective professions would drive the curriculum
1779, Jefferson proposes a two-track system of education
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Active inquiry is introduced as a method of instruction
Increased numbers of American children have access to education
1791, Education becomes a function of the state rather than the federal government
Nineteenth Century
1821, First public high school opens
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Increased urbanization and immigration created new practical demands of American life
Goal became to provide equal educational opportunities
Ideal of developing a publicly controlled and financed educational system
1866, 14th Amendment gives all persons born or naturalized equal protection. Freed male slaves gain
the right to vote.
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Emergence of a national democracy
Educated citizens are needed to choose leaders wisely
Increased variety of subjects
Debate arose between practical and traditional academic curricula
1876, NEA proposes five essential groups of knowledge
1890’s, elementary school children legally obligated to attend school
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Focus given to preparing secondary students for college
1893, proposal to create four parallel programs, beginning of tracking system
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Greater emphasis given to modern subjects, including sciences
Twentieth Century
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Opposing forces meet in educational reform; progressivists, traditionalists and nontraditionalists favoring either society or individual centered curricula
1916, Terman and team at Stanford complete an American version of the Binet-Simon scale and the
concept of an IQ test
1918, Federal Bulletin to broaden the scope of secondary schools to include all of life’s experiences
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Education’s place is to prepare each individual so they can in turn contribute to society
1918, Bobbit produces The Curriculum attempting to define the means by which curricula are written
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Movement to immediate and tangible results rather than intangible outcomes “common good”
(beginning of behavioral objectives?)
1930’s, Eight-year study shows that individual curricula can prepare students for college as well as
subject-based curricula
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World War II – Focus of education shifts to preparedness and training for the good of society
1957, Sputnik launch by Russia. American fear of Russian superiority is launched as well.
1946, ‘Baby Boomer’ generation is begun foreshadowing unprecedented growth in public schools
1960’s, controlled ‘teacher-proof’ curriculum packages are presented
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After Vietnam war, defiance toward American government leads to divided nation between
individualistic and society supporting curricula
1970’s, beginning of ‘accountability’ movement to increase efficiency of American schools
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1981 Nation at Risk is published announces a crisis in American schools focusing on the need for
economic development. Shift returns to a single, subject-centered curriculum.
Twenty-first Century
2001, No Child Left Behind sets expectations for all students to make ‘adequate yearly progress’. Plans
developed to provide financial support during the first two years and sanctions after that.
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General expectation for standardization and uniformity as indicated by standardized
assessments.