1. Early History of Education in American

2. American Colonial Period 1600-1776
Education at Home
What are some disadvantages to this?
Apprentice – someone who learns a skilled trade by watching and helping someone in that trade

3. American Colonial Period 1600-1776
New England Colonies – MA, CT, NH, RI
Puritans from migrated from England
Education for religious reasons
Learn to read The Holy Bible
Teaching farming skills

4. American Colonial Period 1600-1776
Middle Colonies – NY, NJ, PA, DE
Immigrants from Ireland, Scotland, Holland, Germany, etc.
Quakers established schools
Included all races and females

5. American Colonial Period 1600-1776
Southern Colonies – VA, MD,NC, SC
Education is not a function of government
Only education for wealthy plantation owners, usually by tutors
Few opportunities for middle class education
Slaves taught only skills useful to owners
MD Maryland

6. Role of the Teacher Ranked just below religious leaders
No drinking or smoking
No dating or marrying
Performed charitable acts
Regular church attendance required
Mandatory participation in civic events
Industrious and honest
Visited the sick

7. School Curriculum Reading, writing, simple math, religion
Little education after elementary
Trade training, i.e., shoemaking
Latin, Greek, advanced math for wealthy
Sewing and home management for girls sometimes poetry and literature

8. School Curriculum Hornbooks flat wooden boards with a handle
Sheet of paper contained alphabet, prayer, Roman numerals
Covered with clear sheet of animal horn

9. American Early National Period 1776 - 1840
Began with American Revolution
Changes occurred more quickly in cities
Schools were seen as a vehicle for making a better society
Less European influence
Teaching skills focused on helping students enter trade such as agriculture, business, or shipping

10. Benjamin Franklin
Understanding science helped to understand people and societies
Began the first public library
Expanded educational opportunities to those who could pay tuition and attend, regardless of religious beliefs
Influenced schools to teach good citizenship and a variety of subjects

11. Thomas Jefferson Education was key to making new democracy a success
If common people were well education, they could take part in government
Introduced legislation to divide counties into smaller districts responsible for public education
Free elementary schools
Established University of Virginia

12. Role of Teachers Positive models of good citizenship
Involved in community through church participation and involvement in community issues

13. School curriculum Reading, writing, and math
Christian principals and citizenship
Greek, Roman, English and American history
Wealthy boys went on to study Greek, Latin, English grammar, literature, and science.
If girls received additional education, it was with tutor; only subjects “relevant” for females
Education limited to those of European ancestry

14. American Common School Period 1840 - 1880
Labor-saving devices gave people more time for other interests and pursuits
Americans began to realize injustice of slavery
Free education became widely available

15. Horace Mann 1st secretary for the State Board of Education in MA
Worked to establish free public education for every boy & girl in MA
First state supported schools
Established normal schools
Advocated for free libraries
Believed schools should be nonsectarian

16. African American Education
Often done in secret
Northern freed slaves faced social and economic obstacles
Allowed to attend Quaker schools
First African American colleges were founded
Most schools were segregated

17. Role of Teacher
Taught all grades

18. Kindergarten
Established by Freidrich Froebel who believed children learn best through play
Intended to help poor children succeed in school

19. McGuffey Readers Textbook that taught moral lessons
So widely used they contributed to the standardization of American education

20. The Morrill Act Known as Land-Grant College Act
Gave federal land to establish colleges in every state
Colleges provided practical education in agriculture, home economics, and other professions
Made higher education available

21. American Progressive Period 1880-1921
Women gaining more rights
More immigrants
Industrial Revolution changed the nature of work and society
Education seen as way to make American better and safer
Schools overcrowded
Children worked instead of school
Progressives fought to require children to attend school

22. Segregated Education
African American children attended separate schools with less funding
Resources scarce and inferior
Very limited funding
Only African American teachers could teach here

23. Role of Teacher
Teacher preparation programs in college replaced normal schools
Focus on educational theories
Teachers unhappy and formed labor unions that fought to improve pay, status, and working conditions
Many women were teachers; few principals

24. School Curriculum
Students encouraged to think critically and independently
Progressives believed that citizens trained to think and question would clean up corrupt governments and improve working/living conditions
Thousands of new public schools opened

25. John Dewey Believed that classrooms were too rigid and inflexible
Believed school should place more emphasis on problem solving and critical thinking
Promoted link between learning and experience
Believed social interaction aided learning
Teachers began to move into role of guiding learning

26. Maria Montessori Helped children who had difficulty learning
Believed young children are capable of great discovery and motivated to explore the world
Sensory experiences should come before learning to read and write
Considered all of a child’s needs
Classroom should be stimulating environment
Children direct their own learning

27. Career and Technical Education
Prepare students for specific trades or occupations
Established by the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917

28. The 1920s and the Great Depression
Schools expanded during the good times
Schools faced hardships during the Great Depression
Teacher pay cut or eliminated
Only basic courses taught
Federal funds helped hire teachers and purchase supplies
School lunch program began

29. Dick and Jane Readers
Books taught basic reading skills with simple stories
Helped standardize education