United States Route 66

Dewey focused on the individual saying that “education comes through the stimulation of the child's powers by the demands of the social situations in which he finds himself” (Dewey, 1). He believed that you have to tap into an individual’s “own powers, tastes, and interests-say” then that could be used to relate it to past, current, and potential future social situations in which to

Throughout the history of public education, there have been barriers to the equality of opportunity philosophy. Thomas Jefferson’s proposal and Horace Mann’s implementation of public schools excluded non-citizens like blacks, women, and Native Americans. Next, an increase in immigration and industrialization widened cultural and economic differences between students. The greatest obstacle to equal education

Educational policies researcher Joel Spring (1996) discussed many arguments and historical background about various education topics found in the United States. For example, Spring tells us about the historical development of the Common Schools movement and the underlying groups—such as workingmen and political parties—that influenced the movement. In addition, Spring points out some of the implications the movement had on religious, ethnic, and multicultural groups. One particular idea that caught my attention was from the chapter entitled, “The Ideology and Politics of the Common School.” Indeed, my entire conceptual understanding of K-12 education had been predicated on the idea that high schools were part of the original conception of public

Thomas Jefferson remains one of the first advocates for public education, which was later termed the Common School Movement. He recognized the inequality in education, for the wealthy stood the only ones capable of affording an education, thus the poor stayed poor and the rich stayed rich. Jefferson aspired to change the apparent injustices in the education system. He felt all children possessed the right to and education regardless of prosperity, heritage, and circumstances. Even though Jefferson remained not able to create the change he so desperately sought to make, he never stopped trying and since education stayed revolutionized, for his persistence in equality. James Conant, former president of Harvard University stated, “In short, as I view the American scene of the 1960’s, I am ready to declare without hesitation that Jefferson’s proposals have become incorporated in the pattern of our educational structure” (Mercer, 1993).

The issue at hand here is “Should Schooling Be Based on Social Experiences?” This issue is argued by both John Dewey, and Roger Scruton. John Dewey believes yes they should, while Roger Scruton believes no. Dewey believes that students should learn using a different approach, Progressive Education. Progressive Education is education that focuses on students learning by doing hands on activities and learning about the interests of the students. Dewey believes preparing students’ for lives outside of academics is just as important as academics and that social interactions help students understand the academic information. Scruton believes in the more traditional approach, Essentialism. Essentialism focuses on what educators believe the students

Access to free public education was first addressed by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1877. Hayes did not scrutinize based on a family’s economic standing. A child of a poor family benefitting from free stuff was not his concern, nor did he believe that the wealth of a the family should exclude a child from the program. Hayes simply believed, education was the basis for full political and economic participation, and full participation was the basis for a prosperous economy. Therefore, education should be free and available to everyone regardless of their background. Today, education is universal and free to all from kindergarten through twelfth grade. In the 1950’s, it was possible to graduate from high school and move straight into a decent-paying

Jean Anyon discusses the “hidden curriculum” that is distributed in various schools throughout this article. The hidden curriculum is the certain things in schools that are not “a part of the curriculum” per say, such as teamwork and collaborative skills, social engagement skills, manners, or rules. When thinking back to past articles I was able to note that Dewey was typically more concerned with the “hidden curriculum” instead of the actual content. Anyon’s article also helped the readers understand that we view the world by others who influence us. Jean Anyon researched five different schools that were

First and foremost, the American Educational System has received numerous advocates offering crucial inputs on education from centuries ago up to the present time. Even so, with focus, shining on past advocates, three well-known men who are still receiving constant acknowledgment for their ideas and contributions regarding the system. Notably, Dewey, Man, and Jefferson all share major impacts, alike and unlike, resulting in significant effects on the American Educational System.

With developments in technology growing exponentially, teachers must show students how to think critically and problem solve, using factual information as a primary resource. By mastering these skills, students become prepared for their college and careers, which will most likely involve some form of technology that has not yet been invented. This will influence many of the decisions I make as a teacher. Instead of assigning a reading passage and then comprehension questions to answer after, I can encourage students to discuss what they read and make connections to their own lives, research a topic for different perspectives or deeper details, or give students opportunities to present what they know to their peers and me in creative ways.

In the farming society of the early 1800’s, education was not possible for many children. Horace Mann, a farm boy himself and an early advocate for educational reform, saw the deficiencies in the educational system. He pushed for “common schools” that would retain local control, be co-educational and revolve around the agricultural year. Mann’s ideas began to be adopted around the country in the second half of the nineteenth century. By the start of the twentieth century, mandatory public schooling was the norm. This was the height of the industrial revolution. As Davidson notes in “Project Classroom Makeover”, “Public Education was seen as the most efficient way to train potential workers for labor in the newly urbanized factories (197).” Schools began to work like an assembly line with a focus on efficiency, attention to detail, memorization of facts and staying on task. Curriculum became standardized and states began to replace the local management of education. Critically thinking outside the box was less valued. Regardless of ability, children started school at the same age and were moved through their education in a regulated process.

The public school system of America is the driving force of the nation’s job market. There is a direct correlation between the nation’s job market and the nation’s economic opulence. Despite education being at an all-time high for tax dollars spent, the heightened accessibility of schools across the country, and continuation of schooling after high school more than ever, the public school system of the United States continues to pump out insufficient workers to the work force. For almost two hundred years, the citizens of America have held a belief that going through the school system will be the necessary element to the life one wants to live in America. Over the years, schooling emitted a false hope that made job assurance possible. Fifty

The author of Route 66 explains how it is the best highway to travel on in America. To me, he has given enough details about how it is the best highway in America. To make you think the same thing, I am going to explain to you how he put it.

In Illinois, Route 66 ran through a densely populated area. Illinois had considerable infrastructure, including modern road systems. When Route 66 was officially commission, it took over U.S. State Route 4, which was a pre-existing road that was already a paved, two-lane road between Chicago and St,Louis. Because of Illinois’ population and development pressure, Route 66 was constantly doing repairs, resurfacing, and rerouting the road. The original idea was try and bypass as many rural towns as possible to prevent traffic, but with the growing cities, this would prove to be a difficult

Since the establishment of America’s first schools, the American people have disagreed not only about what the purpose of school is, but also about what schools should teach. Initially schools were supposed to “prepare men to vote intelligently and prepare women to train their sons properly. Moral training based on the Protestant Bible would produce virtuous, well-behaved citizens [who knew not only] the three R’s but [also] the general principles of law, commerce, money, and government” (Kaestle, 1983, p. 5). During the 1780’s educational theorists began calling for reform and in 1785 Massachusetts law

Now, it is necessary to understand Dewey’s notions of education in the areas of growth, direction, and social function; a brief summary of each will be given.