Foundations and Assessment of Education/Edition 1/Foundations Table of Contents/Chapter 3/The Scoop From Someone Who Knows

EDUCATIONAL MILESTONES OF THE 20TH CENTURY ==

BY JENNIFER NEMO

LEARNING TARGETS

- To learn about the roots of the U.S. education system.

- Understand the major changes that led to the system we use today.

How?

I will accomplish this by interviewing Mrs. Ann Poorman who is a well respected teacher at Southern Cayuga High School for the past twenty years. Mrs. Poorman is an English teacher who holds an interest in history and the education system. She is a well studied and knowledgeable person to ask about the history of the U.S. Education system.

THE INTERVIEW

When did the U.S. really begin to form a public education system?

regards to the widespread education of our children in the 20th century we can thank the industrial revolution. Before the spread of urban life and mass industry very few children had the opportunity to go to school for any length of time. Children were required to work the fields on the family farm or help with the family business. In the beginning of the 20th century more people were moving to cities and the need for education became greater than ever. The children who were educated usually came from wealthy families.

What was the curriculum like?

The curriculum in the beginning of the 20th century was consisted of basic knowledge skills that could be used to work or run an industrial company such as math, reading, writing, and science.

So, much like our curriculum today?

Yes, however students today have the opportunity of electives. Foreign language, music, art, technical education, and clubs were not available to the average public school child. In fact most students never made it to the high school level.

What other major changes to the education system have occurred in the 20th century?

The invention of the car led to more children having access to school. Desegregation affected the public school system ensuring that all children receive the same education. Post WWII the increase in children led to the government spending more on education than ever before. -New schools were built. Older schools built additions -Programs like Head Start were formed to help weld the link between poverty and education.

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