Historical Foundations Project
From the Revolution to the
Twentieth Century
By: Ali
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Briefly overview of roots in U.S. education
leading to the revolution
Analyzing key people and events from the
Revolution to Twentieth Century
Discussing how this era impacted current day
education and teaching practices
*The majority of this content is taken from: (Webb, Metha &
Jordan, 2010)
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Trace back to ancient
Greece and Rome
-Greeks are considered
the first real educators
in the Western World
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“[Greeks] were the first
western people to
think seriously and
profoundly about
educating youth, the
first to ask what
education is, what it is
for, and how children
and men should be
educated” (Webb,
Metha & Jordan, 2010,
p.97)
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Brought to New England by the Puritans
The Reformation of 1517
-Martin Luther’s nailing of the Ninety-Five Theses
->challenging Roman Catholic Church
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Education was necessary for religious
instruction, salvation and to be a good citizen
-Luther believed the state should support education,
have authority of its content and curriculum
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Reformation giving way to the Age of
Enlightenment
Jamestown (VA)- first settlement for
education in colonial America
Introduction of education laws
-Massachusetts Law of 1642
-Education Law of 1647
These laws served as models for other colonies
to follow
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Town schools, dame schools and popper
schools (charity schools) were established
-they focused on scholars ideals of the two-track
system: Reading, writing, math
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Some secondary grammar schools
-focused on Latin
 College of William and Mary (1693)
 Growth of Universities and college education
On July 4th, 1776, the 13 colonies declared
independence from England
 This independence meant many changes
within education.
-both positive and negative
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POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
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Caused a
shortage in
teachers
(casualties)
A shortage in
funds for teachers
Changed the ideals for
education based on what
they fought for
>independence from English values
and control
>new republic ideals:
1 )An education that emphasizes citizen
choice in public vs. private
2) An education focused on independent
citizens
3) An education focused scientific
inventiveness and overall human life
4) Making America a teacher for the world:
in aspects of liberty and learning
Thomas Jefferson
One of the founding fathers.
Viewed education as “an indispensible cornerstone of freedom”
Proposed the bill for the More General Diffusion of KnowledgeStating:
-each hundred was responsible for having an elementary school.
>These schools were free to all white male and female students for
a 3 year period.
>paid for by the state
-each state be divided into 20 districts
>containing a public boarding grammar school in each district
>these schools were offered to wealthy individuals for a fee
>OR to the most intelligent students of the poor (in which the state
would pay for their attendance)
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**Although this plan was defeated by Virginia legislature, it is
considered important because it removed stigma of
pauperism in elementary schools
Established A Plan for the Establishment of Public
Schools and the Diffusion of Knowledge in
Pennsylvania
-similar to the plan Jefferson proposed
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-each town of one hundred (or more) was responsible for having free
schools >focusing on reading, writing English and German and math
-each county must provide an academy
>set up to instruct youth in language learning and prepare them for
 Was an advocate for women's education
 He founded one of the first female academies (Young Ladies Academy
of PA)
 Was an advocate for black education
Was said to have had the greatest influence on
education in the new republic
 Focused on teaching cultural independence from
England
 Supported free schools
 Credited for initiating the common school
movement
 He created many different spelling, grammar, and
reading books, not to mention an American
dictionary and version of the bible
-Elementary Spelling book (1783)
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>sold over 75 million copies by 1875
>considered one of the most valuable books ever
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As main contributors to education
movements continued to propose ideas for
school settings, curriculum, etc., different
types of schools became present
Monitorial school (1806)
Free Schools: Charity Schools (1802)
Sunday Schools (1786)
Infant Schools
The academy
Women's academies (1821)
Source: Webb, Metha & Jordan, 2010, p. 130).
Why was the Common School
The common schoolMovement supported?
>contributed to current day ideals  Large amounts of immigration into
of the American public
the U.S.
schools.
-immigrants settling near the cities
>State control and taxation of
because of industrial opportunities
publically supported schools -large amounts of children in need of
became out of this movement.
schooling
 business/industry leaders & the
working class strongly supported the
movement
According to Webb, et al. (2010) >it was an alternative and incentive for
They “were seen as providing
workers (different from popper
the education necessary for
schools), to educate those who could
protection against the tyranny
not afford education
of upper class and for equal
> Uprising of people involved in
participation in democracy” (p.
demonstrations, lectures, and
130)
speaking opportunities on education
Influential people of the Common School
The main orator for the Common School Movement
The first secretary & chief for the board of education (1837)
 Campaigned for increased public awareness & support for
education
->his efforts resulted in:
-secondary schools to be build
-text books improved
- higher teaching salaries
-1st establishment of normal schools (teacher training
institutions)
-Tenth annual report (1846) created the future to the
compulsory attendance law of 1852.
**His actions gave way to the ideology of the common school
movement
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Influential people of the Common School
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Another leader of the common school
movement
Worked to establish the state board of
education
Held lectures, was a writer and editor in
promoting the teachers institution
movement
Was known for his idea of education as a right
for all, even the poor
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The secondary education movement had a slow
expansion because it was not in high demand like
common schools
The uprising was due to rapid population growth and
growth of industries (same as the common school)
High school education became more popular with its
ideals of:
-promoting social and economic experience for the
future (immediate training in the curriculum)
-the comparison between fees associated in
academies and free public education
The Committee of Ten (1892)- an effort to standardize
a curriculum which introduced specific subject matter
for colleges, or other positions.
 The Seven Cardinal Principles of Secondary Education
(1918)- created to review and organize secondary
education focusing on objectives. It also focused on
elementary education.
 The Morrill Act (1862)- Granted land to each state, to
be used towards funding a college. These colleges
would focus on agricultural or mechanical arts….
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“in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the
industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of
life” (Webb, Metha & Jordan, 2010, p. 140).
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First girls high school- created in 1828, due to
success boys schools had in teaching English
Coed High school’s began in 1831
Seminaries and colleges- opened prior to the
Civil War
Although not very favorable in the beginning,
they greatly expanded during the Civil War
-> men were away and enrollment was still
needed
Influential person in women's education
Founder of the Hartford Seminary and
Western Institute for Women
-spoke and taught about the women's suffrage
movement
 She proposed a plan for nationwide teaching
seminaries
-although the plan failed, her ideas gave way to
new roles of females in the school system
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The Meriam Report- increased education, conditions of
schools, and ways of educating Native Americans (in a non
conflicting way with their culture).
De jure segregation- the overturned ideal of segregation
of Mexican-Americans in the Mendez v. Westminster School
District case (1947).
 Tape v. Hurley- the changed law excluding Chinese
students from public schools (1885). Including aspects of
facility equality.
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Robert v. City of Boston- the ruling that said, separate-
but-equal schools didn’t violate black rights.
 Plessy v. Ferguson- the court case stating the
“separate but equal” doctrine was unjust. ->leading
people to also challenge rights within access to
education
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Who were some of the major people who
influenced current-day education?
How did these people go about this (what did
they value??
What policies influenced current-day
education?
What aspects of education did they change?
How did society change over time, and what
impacts did this have on education?
Due to influential individuals
-those who placed value on the worth of
individuals, rather than ones social class.
-those who stressed value of education
 Due to policies that challenged new ways of
thinking
-types of schools
-teaching practices
-acceptance of minorities
 Due to changes within society
-breakaway from English ideals
-growth in immigration
-advancement in industry
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Campbell, J. (2000). Benjamin rush and women's education: A revolutionary’s disappointment, a
nation's achievement . Retrieved from
http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/johnandmary/JMJVolume13/campbell.htm
Brown, L. (2007, March 29). West European history. Retrieved from http://suite101.com/article/martinluther-and-the-reformation-a17603
Huehls, F. (n.d.). Learning to give. Retrieved from http://learningtogive.org/papers/paper76.html
Matzat, A. L. (n.d.). Education laws. Retrieved from http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/masslaws.html
Webb, L. D., Metha, A., & Jordan, K. F. (2010). Foundations of
Ohio: Merrill.
American Education. (pp. 95-153).