Expanding Public Education Chapter 8 Section 2

Expanding Public Education Reality – The majority of students who went to school left after 4 years and few went to high school Most southern states did not have public education systems before the Civil War Reform movements looked to: extend public education to more children increase the # of years of mandatory school attendance lengthen the school year

School Reform 12 to 16 weeks a year 8-14 years of age Curriculum emphasized Reading Writing Arithmetic Rote Memorization

School Reform Criticisms of Education at the turn of the Century Rote Memorization Uneven Quality of Teachers Strict Rules and Physical Punishment (See page 283 Personal Voice)

More Students Go to School Kindergarten – originally created outside the public school system offered daycare for working mothers 1880 - 62 % of white children attend school 1880 - Only 37 % of African American children attend school (Discrimination)

More Students Go to High School Public High Schools Increase in # More students begin to attend high school Half a million attend at the turn of the century Curriculum focused on: Science Civics Home Economics History Literature Vocational Classes

More Students Go to High School Vocational Classes: Prepare students for industrial jobs and skilled labor drafting, carpentry, mechanics (boys), secretarial skills and bookkeeping (girls)

Racial Discrimination in Schools African Americans mostly excluded from H.S. 1890 – less than 1% attend H.S. 2 out of 3 of those attended private schools 1910 – 3% African Americans 15-19 attended, but still in private schools

Education for Immigrants Immigrants were encouraged to attend school for the Americanization Movement Most immigrant children went to free, public schools where they became quickly Americanized Catholics started their own private schools (parochial) because of the mandatory readings from the King James Bible and the non-observance of holy days and saint holidays

Adult Education Adult Immigrants attended night schools to learn English and quality for citizenship Henry Ford provided programs for his employees through the “Sociology Department” Sent caseworkers into employees homes to ensure immigrants were taught: English American Ways “The Right Way to Live”

Expanded Higher Education Turn of the Century only 2.3 % of attended college or university Middle and Upper Class Only Goal was to prepare well-to-do young men for careers in business or the professions

Changes in Universities Industrial Development changed the educational needs at all levels Public Schools only required H.S. diploma Universities instituted the Research College in response to industry Research College offered courses in modern language, engineering, economics, physical science, psychology, sociology, law, and medicine

Research Colleges Modern Curriculum (see previous slide) Founded by Industrialist to ensure supply of engineers and scientists Stanford University (Mr. & Mrs. Leland Stanford) University of Chicago (John D. Rockefeller)

Higher Education for African Americans After the Civil War African Americans could pursue a college education. Numerous all-black colleges opened Howard University Atlanta University Fisk University Hampton Institute

W.E.B. Du Bois 1st African American to receive doctorate from Harvard Raised in a middle class family in the north Niagara Movement: Blacks should seek a liberal arts education to provide well educated leaders for the African American Community Top-Down Integration – Top 10% gain immediate integration into white society

Booker T. Washington Born into slavery Graduate of Hampton University Founded Tuskegee Institute Agricultural, Domestic, and Mechanical Training Bottom-Up Integration: Believed racism would end once African Americans acquired useful labor skills and proved economic value to society. Gradual Integration.