Introduction
Education in the United States has always been greatly confining to new ideas and positions from many different people. This page will be dedicated to ten theorist/ philosophers that I believe play a major role in the history of education in the United States. With each theorist/ philosopher there will be and a very brief explanation of who they are and their contributions to Education, click on their name and you will be directed to more information about them!
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was an author, political theorist, and inventor. He often not acknowledge for his educational impact but as one of his major contributions reflect back to the historical significance of the declaration of Independence in which Benjamin Franklin took part in. The teaching method that he presented was a new view in which valued individual experience as a form of teaching.
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Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
was an influential leader that was closely tied to Benjamin Franklin as he too was a founding father that signed the Declaration of independence which freed the thirteen colonies from British influence. Elected as president in 1800, Thomas Jefferson believed that the citizens granted freedom in a self-governed country should have the opportunity to go to school. Education provided the knowledge and virtues in order for the self govern citizens to form. Which enable the nation to prosper as equality throughout the educational system began to gain much more importance due to Thomas Jeffersons contributions. |
Noah Webster (1758- 1843) role in the development of the educational system is clear to still have a life impact in the Educational system today as his creation of the Webster dictionary. The creation of the dictionary by Noah Webster was vital in the development of the American educational system as he designed it “to clearly differentiate a democratic American English from the more flowery language of monarchical England.” (Fraser 28) He valued the learning of the youth as he was the single most influential person in the construction of the American version of the English language. This was huge since at the time America was seeking more ways to resist British influence have they have just broken ties with one another.
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Horace Mann (1796- 1859) was known as the father of common school. He advocated for schooling that would educate all of those in common while using the same curriculum. He Believed that common school was the institution that could solve Massachusetts problems including the threat of class warfare, problems associated with dislocation of the population from rural to urban, and the need to assimilate culturally diverse immigrants.
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Fredrick Douglass (1818- 1895) was an escaped slave who became an author and a influential activist. Promoted means to ended segregation as well as provided guidance to many African American students. Frederick Douglass argued in his speech in 1894, that learning and liberty went hand in hand. He underlined the importance of education as part of a process of realizing human potential, furthering justice, and achieving freedom:
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Abraham Lincoln (1809- 1865) is commonly known for being the 16th president of the United States. He has made major contributions to the United States as a whole as he presented the Emancipation Proclamation in which did not end slavery initially but provided slaves with the right the join to serve the county in both army and naval forces. Those who joined were given the right to fight for basic civil rights. This was just the beginning of a new America in which will embrace different races as one and ultimately had greatly impacted the American educational system as the African American population grew they became more aware of their rights and began several movements to now end segregation within the educational system.
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Booker T. Washington (1856- 1915) lived and experienced the inequality that each African American had to go through during this time, born into slavery Booker T. Washington’s major contribution to the American educational system was the finding of Tishgee University in 1881. This was a black school in Alabama devoted to industrial and moral education and to the training of public school teachers.
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W. E. B. DuBois (1868- 1963) was a scholar and activist brought his version in how he believed African Americans should be taught as education among all races began to become relevant as the civil rights area arose. A major contribution in which W.E.B DuBois took part in was the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) founded in 1909 with his influence and leadership began the major civil rights movement.
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Richard Nixon (1913- 1994) was widely known for being involved in the Watergate scandal as the president of the United States. It is common for his education efforts are forgotten but he has had a major impact on the history of our education. Richard Nixon major contribution was the establishment of the title IX. This was a law to equalize education in the United States. They gave all citizens no matter what gender the ability to have equal education as well as equal financial assistance. This shaped the educational system and our nation as major female figures emerged and continue to imoact our society today.
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George Bush (1946- Present) was a politician and an activisit for a more equal eduaction across the nation. In his year he also serves as president being Americas 43rd president from 2001 serving two terms till 2009. During his time of presidency, there were many national secity measures taken since the nations safey was of concern after the 9/11 attacks. George Bush set forth many policies in with ungraded their safety but he also made a major contribution to America's educational system by passing the no child left behind act, it provided the opportunity for children who did not have enough resources to gain access to education in only one condition the sutdents needed to show improvement in their academic progress. This further pushed equality for all children.
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