2500 BCE – First Mesopotamian Schools and Educational System Are Founded
The Sumerians invented writing during the Uruk Period, which lasted from 4100 BCE till approximately 2900 BCE. Therefore, there was a need to preserve and transfer this knowledge, so they created the first schools, which were initially attached to temples (Mark, 2023). It is known that students started learning before the age of ten and continued their education for about twelve years. They studied Sumerian and Akkadian, cuneiform script, zoology, religion, philosophy, medicine, and other subjects. This event is included in the timetable due to its strong impact on future educational systems.
200 BCE – Educational System of Rome Began Its Development
This century is marked by the establishment of the first Roman schools. They were primarily impacted by the teaching system and traditions of Ancient Greece. However, the Romans’ different religious, cultural, and political beliefs affected their schooling structure, including severe discipline. While people experiencing poverty did not study formally, many accessed informal education. Kids from rich households could afford high-quality learning and even tutors.
1250s – Beneficial Impacts of Thomas Aquinas
In medieval times, the educational system was mostly corrupted but not well-developed. Due to the teachings and contributions of Thomas Aquinas, an educator and philosopher, faith-based colleges and schools changed their approaches toward education. For example, they combined reason and faith and included scientific subjects in their curricula (Galgonovicz, 2019). Similarly, Aquinas insisted on extending the scope of teaching so that children were more informed and had knowledge in different fields. The views of this figure affected the following forms of teaching and views on schools.
1423 – Vittorino da Feltre Founds a School of Humanism
Humanism played a key role in the development of education during the Renaissance. One of the main schools created at those times was a school in the state of Mantua, Italy. Liberal arts were perceived as an integral part of obtaining freedom. As a result, humanism highlighted the need to study astronomy, music and poetry, philosophy, history, and other liberal arts subjects. Such schools served as exemplary models for the rest of European education.
1636 – The Foundation of Harvard, the First College in the U.S. Colonies
The Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony voted to found the first college in the colonies of America. This was a major step toward educating colonists and even Indian youth. Nowadays, this is a part of one of the most famous and impactful educational facilities. Harvard College has a rich and long history, including its engagement with slavery and local peoples. One might say that the educational system of the U.S. would be different now without the contribution of Harvard College.
1896 – Plessy v. Ferguson Contributes to Segregation
This is an infamous court case that increased the levels of segregation in the U.S. The Supreme Court decided that it was constitutional to segregate children as long as they had equal conditions for studying (Legal Defense Fund, n.d.). Unfortunately, this event had negative effects not only on the civil rights movement but also on the development of the educational system. Instead of focusing on making the conditions better for everyone and promoting moral values, people supported segregation. It is also questionable whether Black students could access quality education.
1954 – A Pivotal Decision in Brown v.s. Board of Education
This ruling was a defining moment in the history of American education. At that time, segregation was a severe issue, and people adhered to a doctrine of “separate but equal” (Legal Defense Fund, n.d., para. 1). However, in this case, the Supreme Court declared the doctrine unconstitutional. The key figures in this case fought for many years to achieve such great results. Fortunately, they won, and children of all races received their right to study together.
1975 – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Is Enacted
This act was a significant step toward equal and inclusive education. IDEA made it possible for children with different disabilities to access free and high-quality education. This law “governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services” to millions of kids (U.S. Department of Education, n.d., para. 2). Initially known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, this law increased disabled students’ rates of education. After 1975, all U.S. schools were made to accept such children and help them adapt.
2001 – The Passage of the No Child Left Behind Act
From 2002 to 2015, this act was the primary regulation for American K-12 education. Its key purpose was to include disadvantaged students in the system, supporting low-income, racial, and other minorities (Klein, 2015). This act made schools responsible for children’s achievements and penalized those facilities that failed. Schools had to conduct annual testing and refer to improvement targets and reporting. This law was effective but also controversial because it severely shifted focus from children with great performance to disadvantaged ones.
2015 – Every Student Succeeds Act Is Introduced
Due to the weaknesses of the NCLB act, ESSA was passed. After that, the educational system in the U.S. became less centralized. This improved version provided more flexibility to states, allowing them to decide the ways to evaluate students’ performance (U.S. Department of Education, 2020). This act ensured parents could make informed decisions regarding their children. ESSA provided more transparency and reduced pressure that teachers experienced because of students’ low performance.
References
Galgonovicz, J. P. (2019). The educational theory of Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274). New Foundations. Web.
Klein, A. (2015). No Child Left Behind: An overview. Education Week. Web.
Legal Defense Fund. (n.d.). Brown v. board of education: the case that changed America. Web.
Mark, J. J. (2023). Mesopotamian education. World History Encyclopedia. Web.
U.S. Department of Education. (2020). What is the Every Student Succeeds Act? OESE. Web.
U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). About IDEA. Web.