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Colonial American Education Essay

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During the time of the colonial period in America, a major emphasis of education was religion. Pilgrims who traveled across the Atlantic ocean came for religious freedom. In the New England colonies, parents educated their children on occupation, literacy, and religion with references to the Bible. A century later, the newly formed United States took initiative in setting up an educational system. Benjamin Rush emphasized how the United States needed to be a cohesive group. His quote, “Render the mass of people more homogeneous and thereby fit them more easily for uniform and peaceable government”, would help children thrive. In the middle nineteenth century, the common schools developed industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. A major …show more content…

With John Dewey’s philosophy, they have all formulated policies and practices. Calvinism stresses on predestination. This expresses no individual free will or self-determination. People who sin are unable to attain salvation, but doing hard work and staying disciplined is considered God’s favor. This purpose of schooling is breaking the child’s will which incorporates corporal punishment. That is spiritual purification through suffering. Romanticism is a more artistic, spiritual, and intellectual movement. The focus of art is linked between the mind and nature. This was a result of monarchies and totalitarianism with the disappointment of modern science. Romanticism is non-coercive and does not allow corporal punishment. John Dewey’s understanding of human beings is that they are social creatures and cooperative. He rejected the fact that humans were discrete individuals, had insatiable desires, and were rational. In today’s school policies, curriculum, and practices, the approach of corporal punishment is obviously not being used in classrooms around the country. Calvinism does not work in schools. However, romanticism prioritizes individualism and free will which is important for students. Students need to be able to express themselves at any time in order for them to feel …show more content…

Each of the presidents in the video spoke on very similar ideas and values of what needs to be done to improve education in America. First off, the purpose of school is to become disciplined and accountable in order to find a future job. The average diploma should expand the workforce not the unemployment line. The United States is also competing against other nations with high academic standards and success. All presidents stated that the United States needs to be number one in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classes. Students who have successful STEM experience will be able to find good jobs. With good testing numbers, students and teachers should also be rewarded by their efforts. Education reforms are bipartisan and need investment to be involved. Unfortunately over the last several decades, nothing monumental has impacted education

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