MERRELL, K.W., ERVIN, R. A., & PEACOCK, G. G.
(2006). SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY FOR THE 21ST
CENTURY: FOUNDATIONS AND PRACTICES. NEW
YORK, NY: THE GUILFORD PRESS.
Chapter 2: History of School Psychology
Timeline of Psychology
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470 - 322 B.C.: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle first
document the study of psychology
1588-1678: Hobbes: Relationship of speech to thought
1596-1650: Descartes: mind/body dualism
1632-1704: Locke: minds ability to gain knowledge
1711-1776: Hume: equates psychology to physics/
impressions vs. ideas
1809-1882: Darwin: evolution of the mind
1832-1939: Wundt establishes the first psych lab
1856-1939: Freud: unconscious vs. conscious
1891: APA was founded
Timeline of American Education
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1600s: Ideas about public education being discussed.
1700s: States begin to add public education to their
constitutions
1800s: Beginning and expansion of the “common
schools”
1892: Plessy vs. Ferguson
1920s: Almost all children receive some schooling
1954: Brown vs. Board of Education
1975: Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L.
94-142/ IDEA)
Timeline of School Psychology
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1890s: First began to see the foundations of school
psychology as a separate practice.
1896: Lightner Whitmer: First Psychological Clinic in North
America at University of Penn. (specifically for discovering
problems in children)
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1905: Publication of Stanford-Binet scales
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Seen as father of school and clinical psychology
Original Binet scales for sorting children in Paris schools
1910: Child Guidance Clinics and Mental Hygiene
Movement
1920s: “School Psychology/ School Psychologist” emerge as
terms
1971: APA Accredits their first doctoral program
Timeline of School Psychology
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1930: Hildreth’s book “Psychological Service for School
Problems” published as first book in the field
1949: Boulder Conference: scientist-practitioner model of
training and psychological credentials first set forward
(general to psychology)
1954: Thayer Conference: first conference specific to school
psychology.
1969: NASP is founded
1975: P.L. 94-142
1980s: NASP approves first programs
1988: NCSP credential is established
2002: APA/ NASP joint committee (IOC) considered a
failure
NASP and APA Divide
NASP
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M.S. / Ed.S. degree
APA
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 to
be called a
“psychologist”
 To practice
independently

Sch Psych is
INDEPENDENT from
psych
Doctoral Degree
 to
be called a
“psychologist”
 To practice
independently

Sch Psych is
SUBSUMED in psych