Education Timeline
1950-present

Time Period - 1950-1990: Cold War: Regional Military “conflicts”, proxy wars, McCarthyism, Space Race (Sputnik to Apollo), Civil Rights Movement

Education Overview:
Increased Graduation requirements
Competency Based
Back to Basics
Integration, Forced Busing
Emerging Technology
Classical Humanism Rises
Subject-based (science/math)
Curriculum Integration declines

1950 - Brown v. Board of Ed Topeka-The US Supreme Court concludes that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.
1951- Jack LaLanne uses TV to teach (fitness education)
1953 - B.F. Skinner's theory on operant conditioning, which emphasizes changes in behavior due to reinforcement, influences American education
1954- US racial integration in schools
1957 - Sputnik launched - a threat to American national security and a blow to national pride.
1958 - National Defense Education Act (NDEA) passed which authorizes increased funding for scientific research and science education.
1960 -First grader Ruby Bridges - first African American to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. All Caucasian students leave the school.
1961 - Cooking class on TV- Juia Child
1962 - Engel v. Vitale, the U. S. Supreme Court rules that the state of New York's Regents prayer violates the First Amendment. "state officials may not compose an official state prayer and require that it be recited in the public schools of the State at the beginning of each school day. . . "
1963 - School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp and Murray v. Curlett, the U. S. Supreme Court rules" no state law or school board may require that passages from the Bible be read or that the Lord's Prayer be recited in the public schools . . . even if individual students may be excused from attending or participating . . ."
1963 - President John F. Kennedy is assassinated. Schools close as the nation mourns its loss. Lyndon Johnson becomes president.
1964,- Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, now the Learning Disabilities Association of America, is formed.
1964 - The Civil Rights Act becomes law. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin.
1964 - political protests at universities
1965 - Operation Head Start was announced
1966 - International Education Act (PL 89-698)passed - promoted international studies at U.S. colleges and universities.
1968 - The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) was established as a national information system funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences to provide access to education literature and resources.
1968 - U.S. supreme Court finds law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in a public school or university unconstitutional.
1969 - Herbert R. Kohl's book, The Open Classroom, helps to promote open education,
1969- First Sesame Street Episode airs on TV
1970 - Deschooling Society, Ivan Illich's controversial book calls for the end of compulsory school attendance.
1970 - Jean Piaget's Learning Cycle model promotes discovery-based teaching.
1970 - New laws requiring that children referred for possible special education placement be tested in their primary language.
1970- Homeschool Movement
1972 - Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 becomes law - prohibits discrimination based on sex in all aspects of education.
1975 - conservative back-to-the-basics movement starts with Newsweek's December 8 cover story, "Why Johnny Can't Write."
1979 - US spending on education exceeds 150 Billion (from 8.3 Billion in 1950)
Early 1980s - Television in the classroom. The availability of cheap VCRs makes video learning common.
1980's - Community colleges and "tech" schools popular. Perfect for people want advanced education without enrolling in universities.
Computers in Schools
1980 - Ronald Reagan is elected president- conservative era in education
1981 - John Holt's book, Teach Your Own: A Hopeful Path for Education, adds momentum to the homeschooling movement.
1982 - Madeline C. Hunter's direct instruction teaching model becomes widely used.
1982 - Board of Education v. Pico , the U.S. Supreme court rules that books cannot be removed from a school library because school administrators deemed their content to be offensive.
1983 - The report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education, A Nation at Risk, calls for sweeping reforms in public education and teacher training.
1985 -Wallace v, Jaffree, the U.S. Supreme Court finds that Alabama statutes authorizing silent prayer and teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools violate the First Amendment.
1986 - Christa McAuliffe is chosen by NASA from among more than 11,000 applicants to be the first teacher-astronaut, but her mission ends tragically as the Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after its launch, killing McAuliffe and the other six members of the crew.
1987 - Edwards v. Aguillard, et al. the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a Louisiana rule requiring that creation science be taught along with evolution.
Late 1980s - Computers come to school. Models by Apple and IBM begin to be seen in schools, but it's a while before they're useful to most students.
1989 - Tiananmen Square- The Chinese government uses military force to stop student protests for democracy in Tiananmen Square. Hundreds of civilians and students die.

Time Period - 1990-2001: Information Era: Explosion of the Internet, Peace and Prosperity, Realignment of new world power centers

Education Overview:
Standards Tests
National Curriculum Movement
Accountability” – Teacher/Student
Home Schools
Charter Schools
Mainstreaming Distance Education
Technology Explosion
Subject grouping
Theme-centered
Brain research applied to education
Multiple Intelligence’s theory applied to teaching

1991- Minnesota passes the first "charter school" law
1992 - Education Reform -increased funding and accountability
Late 1990s - The development of the Internet makes instant information and communication available to anyone in the world with a connection. Content develops quickly, and research is available on any virtually any topic. E-learning courses develop, allowing students to learn and even gain a university degree "online."
1996 - In James Banks' book, Multicultural Education: Transformative Knowledge and Action - multiculturalism in education is brought to the foreground.
998 - The Higher Education Act is amended and reauthorized requiring institutions and states to produce "report cards" about teacher education (See Title II).
2000 - Diane Ravitch's book, Left Back: A Century of Failed School Reforms , criticizes progressive educational policies and argues for a more traditional, academically-oriented education.

Time Period - 2001-present: Era Yet to Be Named: Terrorism, Uncertainty, Outsourcing overseas, Helicopter Parenting

Education Overview
No Child Left Behind
Teaching to Tests
"Smart Child Left Behind"

2001 - No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is passed - holds schools accountable for student achievement levels and provides penalties for schools that do not make adequate yearly progress toward meeting the goals of NCLB.
2002 - Zelman v. Simmons-Harris the U.S. Supreme court rules that certain school voucher programs are constitutional and do not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
2008 - Barack Obama is elected the 44th President of the United States with substantial changes expected in the No Child Left Behind Act in early 2009.

American Education Time-line
-up to 1950-

The time-line of education is closely tied to the time-line of history. Historic events create situations, needs and attitudes. Needs and attitudes of people in each era affect their decisions about education. History and beliefs about the future drive the purpose of education during each time period.


In the following timel-ine, each "era" will begin with a brief description of the time period in history.

It will be followed by an overview of education during that time period.

Finally, specific events and/or people that influenced education during that time period will be listed.


Time Period - Pre-1850: Physical Expansion, Colonization and Westward Expansion

Education Overview:
Education was largely limited to wealthy white males
Wealthy women attended different schools with different curriculum
Education was intended to produce priest/ministers
Education was mostly private or small-scale
Ben Franklin introduced the trade curriculum

1690- John Locke Philosophy: the mind is a blank slate
1770- Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Frankin stated importance of education for all citizens.
1799- Pestalozzi created the first "elementary school" in Switzerland
1833- First tax dollars given for education in Britain- church and private monopolies broken up
1837- Froebel opended the first kindergarten


Time Period - 1850-1900: Industrial Era: Civil War, Reconstruction, Massive immigration


Education Overview:
Formal education was set up for the general population by most Western governments
Open to women, minorities
Segregated Universal General Education
Early Research (Dewey, Smith)
Social Integration of Immigrants


1852- Massachusetts: first all free public education in US
1880- Darwin's theory of evolution


Time Period - 1900-1950: Progressive Era: Two “World Wars”, Depression, America as the World Power


Education Overview:
Universal Education
Liberal Arts vs Trades “stamp-and-sort” (Production Model of Education)
Project Method
Teacher-Student Planning
Child-Centered, Experience Centered

1910 - First Junior High School
1916 - Dalton Plan influences progressive educators around the world.
1918- Free Educatoin required by all United States
1920 - Urban population grows to exceed rural population.
1920- Montessori
1921- First Study Abroad
1922 - Pope Pius XI claims co-education harmful to Christian training
1926 - Semester at Sea Program
1926 - The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is first administered. It is based on the Army Alpha test.
1929 - Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development influences American education.
1929 - The Great Depression - Public education funding suffers.
1941 - The U.S. enters World War II
1944 - GI Bill of Rights - Millions of U.S. war veterans gain access to higher education.
1946 - The first baby boomer is born - a generation that brought unprecedented school population growth and massive social change.

Defining Education

The definition of eduction varies depending upon who you ask and when you ask it.

Dictionaries have their own definitions. Philosophers have their own definitions The definition of education may be different today than it was centuries ago.

Education is the process of educating.

Education is the noun form of the verb educate.

The verb educate is defined as to develop skill, knowledge or character.

Education comes from the Latin word e-ducere which means "to lead out."


Dictionary and web based definitions of the noun, education and the verb, educate:

Wikipedia

education
"Education is the learning of knowledge, information and skills during the course of life."
"knowledge, is often used to convey this general purpose of education"
"Education can thus attempt to give a firm foundation for the achievement of personal fulfillment. The better the foundation that is built, the more successful the child will be. Simple basics in education can carry a child far.[citation needed"

Meriam- Webster

educate:
1 a: the action or process of educating or of being educated ; also : a stage of such a process b: the knowledge and development resulting from an educational process 2: the field of study that deals mainly with methods of teaching and learning in schools

The Free Dictionary

educationed·u·ca·tion (j-kshn)
n.
1. The act or process of educating or being educated.
2. The knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a learning process.
3. A program of instruction of a specified kind or level: driver education; a college education.
4. The field of study that is concerned with the pedagogy of teaching and learning.
5. An instructive or enlightening experience: Her work in the inner city was a real education.

ed·u·cate (j-kt)
v. ed·u·cat·ed, ed·u·cat·ing, ed·u·cates
v.tr.
1. To develop the innate capacities of, especially by schooling or instruction. See Synonyms at teach.
2. To provide with knowledge or training in a particular area or for a particular purpose: decided to educate herself in foreign languages; entered a seminary to be educated for the priesthood.
3.
a. To provide with information; inform: a campaign that educated the public about the dangers of smoking.
b. To bring to an understanding or acceptance: hoped to educate the voters to the need for increased spending on public schools.
4. To stimulate or develop the mental or moral growth of.
5. To develop or refine (one's taste or appreciation, for example).
v.intr.
To teach or instruct a person or group.

Yourdictionary.com

edu·cate (ej′o̵̅o̅ kāt′, ej′ə-)

1. to train or develop the knowledge, skill, mind, or character of, esp. by formal schooling or study; teach; instruct
2. to form and develop (one's taste, etc.)
3. to pay for the schooling of (a person)

Brainyquote.com

education
The act or process of educating; the result of educating, as determined by the knowledge skill, or discipline of character, acquired; also, the act or process of training by a prescribed or customary course of study or discipline; as, an education for the bar or the pulpit; he has finished his education.

educate
To bring /// or guide the powers of, as a child; to develop and cultivate, whether physically, mentally, or morally, but more commonly limited to the mental activities or senses; to expand, strengthen, and discipline, as the mind, a faculty, etc.,; to form and regulate the principles and character of; to prepare and fit for any calling or business by systematic instruction; to cultivate; to train; to instruct; as, to educate a child; to educate the eye or the taste.

What is the Definition of Education?

What does it mean to be educated? Why do we go to school? Why is education important? What is the purpose of education? What is the value of education? Have our educational needs changed over time? How does one become educated?

There are many different ways to educate and be educated. Are we doing it right?

Are we providing and receiving the education that's needed for today and for the future?

Our world is changing at a rapid pace! How can we keep up to date on what is important and ensure that our children have the skills they need to survive in this era?

What is most important for children to learn? Is school important? Public School? Private School? What education alternatives are available?

How can we, as parents, enrich our children and provide them values at home? How can we, as teachers and friends, model life as a motivated learner and a caring friend and neighbor?

What is the value of education? What is the purpose of education? What is the definition of success?

So many questions. We need answers!!

If we start with an accurate and current definition of education, we can get answers.

As a student, teacher and parent, I have researched, studied and explored education in depth. I continue to research, experience and learn about education daily.

I hope that, with this blog, I can share my findings and, together, we can ensure that our children receive the education they need to be successful today and in the future.