Quick Review of the Evolution of American Education
To begin reviewing the evolution of agricultural education programs, readers must start with a quick review of how the educational system developed in the United States. In the early years of the United States, schooling existed for only a select few. Most children receiving educational services were white and were educated through a variety of methods including:
- •
Local schools organized by the community
- •
Schools requiring tuition to attend
- •
Boarding schools
- •
Dame schools- run by women in their homes
- •
Apprenticeships focused on work skills
Education was not free and open to all. The Founding Fathers recognized the importance of having an educated society to promote democracy. In the late 1780s, free public education initially began, but it took until the 1830s before the concept was fully developed across the nation.
In 1830, Horace Mann, a Massachusetts legislator and secretary of the state’s board of education, began to champion the common school. Common schools focused on teaching the 3 R’s (reading, writing, and arithmetic) as well as history, geography, grammar, and rhetoric. These schools were to be funded by the state, open to all children, and free of charge. The thought was that educating all children, from all socioeconomic levels, would help them to better themselves and their communities in the future. Initially, the idea of common schools was not universally accepted but, over time, gained acceptance from all.
In the 19th century, public schools (referenced previously as common schools), began to grow at a faster rate, especially in suburban areas. Over time, states began providing funding for universal public education. Figure 1 depicts how grade levels came online over time and the percentages of children who attended in the nation.
Figure 1. Development overview of elementary and high school education in the United States